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Tse Grades Draft - 2001 NFL draft
Sporting News, The, April 30, 2001
All 31 teams came looking to restock their supplies for another
NFL survival test. Some teams picked up only the bare necessities,
while others came away more than replenished. Although not a single
down has been played by any of the 246 players selected in last
weekend's draft, it's not too early for an analysis of the best
and the worst picks of each team that includes overall grades.
Team Rk. Best pick
SEATTLE 1 G Steve Hutchinson. This wasn't a glaring need
because Chris Gray and Robbie Tobeck are adequate
options inside, but the Seahawks were smart not
to pass over Hutchinson.
SAN DIEGO 2 QB Drew Brees. G.M. John Butler couldn't have
planned it better himself, Brees' fall wasn't a
huge shock, but the Chargers didn't expect to
get a player like him after trading away the
top pick.
DETROIT 3 C Dominic Raiola. This was truly an outstanding
pick by Matt Millen and Co. The Lions have been
trying to find a competent snapper since they
lost Kevin Glover, and Raiola is the answer.
ST. LOUIS 4 DT Damione Lewis. The Rams felt bad letting go
of D'Marco Farr, but Lewis should ease the pain.
The most disruptive tackle in the draft, Lewis
will spend most of his time in opposing
backfields.
WASHINGTON 5 CB Fred Smoot. He was the top cover player on
some draft beards, se the Commanders were shocked
he was still available in Round 2. It's possible
that Smoot will be relegated to a dime role as a
rookie.
NY 6 CB William Merson. The Giants have a history
of picking Michigan players. Peterson is from
Western Illinois ... after transferring from
Michigan. He has a chance to start as a rookie.
BALTIMORE 7 TIE Todd Heap. A mid-first-round talent taken
with the final pick of the first round. New QB
Elvis Grbac loves to go to his tight ends, and
Heap should help Shannon Sharpe control the
middle of the field.
GREEN BAY 8 DE Jamal Reynolds. The Packers haven't had a
presence on the edge since Reggie White retired,
but Reynolds should solve that problem. As a
rookie, he probably will platoon with John
Thierry.
CINCINNATI 9 WR Chad Johnson. At one point in the predraft
process, Johnson was considered a top-10 pick. He
dominated at the Senior Bowl and should give the
Bengals great flexibility in the passing game.
CLEVELAND 10 DT Gerard Warren. The Browns could have gone
in a number of directions, but Warren is the
inside run stuffer they have lacked for two
years. Orpheus Roye and Stalin Colinet were
out-of-position ends.
KC 11 RD Derrick Blaylock, This pint-sized, small-
school product could develop into a quality
third-down back. He gives the Chiefs another
option in the return game, too.
ATLANTA 12 C Robert Garza. The Falcons were desperate for
interior line help, and this fourth-round pick
could provide relief immediately. A small-school
player, he was impressive against top talent at
the Senior Bowl.
SF 13 RB Kevan Barlow. The loss of free-agent Charlie
Garner made finding a running back essential,
Barlow is an all-purpose back who fills a huge
void in the team's West Coast offense.
MINNESOTA 14 RB Michael Bennett. His running style and track
background make him very similar to Robert Smith.
He's unproven in the passing game but adds a home
run dimension in the backfield.
TAMPA BAY 15 OT Kenyatta Walker. The first round couldn't
have unfolded any better for the Bucs, who
ultimately got the left tackle they've been
desperately seeking the entire offseason,
CHICAGO 16 WR David Terrell. It was shocking to see Terrell
slide this far (No. 8 overall). The Bears
desperately need playmakers on offense, and they
got arguably the best one in the draft here.
DALLAS 17 QB Quincy Carter. The Cowboys are excited
about this pick, and they have good reason to
be. He won't start as a rookie, but his upside
is great. He could be around as long as Troy
Aikman.
JACKSONVILLE 18 S James Boyd. Some scouts believe that Boyd
will be a better pro than he was a college
player. He is an instinctive player, and his
incredible postseason workouts provide great
promise.
OAKLAND 19 S Derrick Gibson. The Raiders have been trying
to eliminate their problems at safety the past
couple of years. This move does just that. They
are glad this potential Pro Bowl player fell
into their hands.
PHILADELPHIA 20 RB Correll Buckhalter. The Eagles failed
miserably on the ground following Duce Staley's
injury last season. Getting Buckhalter gives
them a nice backup and goal-line option.
NEW ENGLAND 21 OT Kenyatta Jones. The Patriots used their time
on Saturday night wisely and moved up to get
this underrated tackle with the opening pick
on the second day.
CAROLINA 22 QB Chris Weinke. This is exactly where TSN had
Weinke slotted to go (44). It's a pick with
great value for the Panthers. With his maturity,
it's possible Weinke might start some as a
rookie.
BUFFALO 23 OT Jonas Jennings. This franchise is known for
uncovering offensive line gems in the later
rounds, and this pick could continue the
tradition, Sixth- round pick S Tony Driver was
a nice choice too.
MIAMI 24 WR Chris Chambers. The addition of Chambers
and the free-agent signings of wideouts James
McKnight and Dedric Ward should really help the
team's passing game.
JETS 25 OT Kareem McKenzie. He might not start
immediately, but you can never have enough
competition at tackle. Some team insiders think
McKenzie can move inside and play guard.
ARIZONA 26 DT Mario Fatafehi. Considering when the Cards
got him--fifth round, 133rd overall--Fatafehi
was a nice value. He and second-round pick DE
Kyle Vanden Bosch should contribute as rookies.
STEELERS 27 LB Kendrell Bell. A great pick. Bell is a
perfect fit for the Steelers' 3-4 scheme. The
big knock on him is that he's undisciplined, but
he will respond to coach Bill Cowher.
DENVER 28 C Ben Hamilton. This is the type of undersized,
intelligent lineman that the Broncos have won
with for years. Hamilton will be groomed as the
eventual successor to Pro Bowl C Tom Nalen.
INDIANAPOLIS 29 S Idrees Bashir. The Colts have been unhappy
with their secondary situation the past couple of
years. Bashir, who covers plenty of ground in the
deep third, will be an upgrade.
NEW ORLEANS 30 WR Onome Ojo. Randy Mueller has done a great
job of improving his team's speed on the
perimeter Ojo should help in that category,
even if he has played football for only three
years.
TENNESSEE 31 LB Keith Adams. A young prospect with great
natural tools; his father played with the
Patriots Adams has been around the game and
knows what it takes to get the job done.
Team Worst pick
SEATTLE CB Curtis Fuller. Seattle had an outstanding
weekend, but it might have reached a bit on the
speedy Fuller. He's too short to play his natural
safety position at the pro level.
SAN DIEGO LB Carlos Polk. The Chargers ended Polk's slide
early on Day 2. This is another fine player, but he
fits best in a 3-4 scheme. The Chargers are confident
Polk will hold up in a 4-3. We'll see.
DETROIT WR Scotty Anderson. It's unfair to label this a
"worst pick," but the Lions could have added
cornerback help at this point. Anderson, who did
some nice things at the Senior Bowl, has potential.
ST. LOUIS DT Ryan Pickett. A rule of thumb on draft day is
to be aware of other teams' draft boards. He has a
nice upside, but the Rams didn't have to jump so
soon. He was only a third-rounder to most teams.
WASHINGTON QB Sage Rosenfels. Marty Schottenheimer was
hoping he would land Chris Weinke but settled for
Rosenfels. Adding a young arm is good, but Jesse
Palmer and Mike McMahon are better.
NY K John Markham. The team is desperate to find
a replacement for Brad Daluiso, but Markham isn't
the answer. Not only were there better kickers
available, nobody else wanted Markham.
BALTIMORE RB Chris Barnes. The loss of RB Priest Holmes
forced this move, but the Ravens could have done
better. Unless they know something we don't, he
was sure to be an undrafted free agent.
GREEN BAY LB Torrance Marshall. This is another selection
by default. There's much to like about Marshall, and
he brings speed to the middle linebacker spot. But
Bernardo Harris will keep him on the bench.
CINCINNATI TE Sean Brewer. A late riser on most teams'
boards. The Bengals pulled the trigger too early with
him. Still, addressing the need for a pass-catching
tight end was a good move.
CLEVELAND S Anthony Henry. Not a top-100 player, but the
Browns didn't agree. It's a surprise to see him get
drafted at all let alone in the fourth round. He could
really struggle at the next level.
KC DT Eric Downing. The Chiefs had more
questionable picks than any other team. They like
Downing's steady development, but they get a low
mark here based on what most scouts said.
ATLANTA TE Alge Crumpler. Instead of an impact receiver
or defensive lineman, the team picked another tight
end (it picked O.J. Santiago in '97, Reggie Kelly in
99). He has a huge upside, but the logic is puzzling.
SF LB Jamie Winborn. Considering Jerry Rice's
pending release and a nagging leg injury to Tai
Streets, the Niners would have been better off
addressing the receiver position in Round 2.
MINNESOTA WR Cedric James. He fits the big-receiver mold
that Dennis Green covets, but there were better
receivers on the board at the time (fourth round). He
figures to be a practice squad body.
TAMPA BAY S John Howell. This was a safe pick for the
Buts, and it gives them another physical presence
in the deep secondary. The problem is Howell likely
would have been available in the later rounds.
CHICAGO G Mike Gandy. Before fans get too upset in
Chicago, please realize this is a good pick. The
Bears did such a good job in the early rounds, there
was no choice but to put Gandy in this category.
DALLAS S Tony Dixon. Not a bad player, but they could
have waited until the third round to get him. Dixon
provides great run support from the secondary, but
he has a long way to go in terms of coverage skills.
JACKSONVILLE DT Marcus Stroud. He was not the 13th-best
player, but he does give the Jaguars a wide body to
stop the run. He plays too high, and his weight will
always be a concern.
OAKLAND QB Marques Tuiasosopo. There's no doubting
Jon Gruden's ability to evaluate quarterbacks, but
Tuiasosopo would have been around in the third or
even the fourth round. He does have a lot upside.
PHILADELPHIA TE Tony Stewart. The Eagles would be foolish to
go with Stewart as primary backup for Chad Lewis
this season. Stewart is not ready to contribute in the
NFL, especially in short-yardage situations.
NEW ENGLAND G Matt Light. He isn't a bad player, but the
Patriots didn't need to trade up to get him. He will
help fix some pass-protection problems on the
interior, but was he worth wasting two picks?
CAROLINA WR Steve Smith. He isn't ready to contribute at
receiver, and it's doubtful he will wrestle the
kickoff-return chores from Michael Bates. The Panthers
spent a third-round pick on a punt returner.
BUFFALO RB Travis Henry. He indeed has second-round
talent, but is he really an upgrade over what the
Bills already have? Sammy Morris and Shawn
Bryson could keep Henry on the bench as a rookie.
MIAMI CB Jamar Fletcher. The Dolphins have the best
cover tandem in the league (Sam Madison and
Patrick Surtain) and a promising young nickel player
(Ben Kelly), so the logic here is questionable.
JETS RB LaMont Jordan. This wasn't a "need" pick,
but Jordan gives the Jets a tremendous insurance
policy behind Curtis Martin. Still they really should
have addressed the defensive line here.
ARIZONA CB Michael Stone. The Cards made a couple of
strange picks, but taking Stone so high (second
round 54th overall) was the most puzzling. Most
teams had him slotted for the fifth round or lower.
STEELERS DE Rodney Bailey. The team projects him as a
defensive end in its defense, but regardless of
where he lines Lip Bailey doesn't look like he can
play in the NFL The Steelers really missed here.
DENVER DE Paul Toviessi. This was a questionable pick
to begin with, and trading up to get him in the
second round makes even less sense, DE Reggie
Hayward, the third-rounder, is better.
INDIANAPOLIS WR Reggie Wayne. He's a solid player, but there
really isn't much upside here. The Colts need
someone to complement Marvin Harrison; Chad
Johnson was that guy.
NEW ORLEANS RB Deuce McAllister. He provides a solid
insurance policy, not to mention a better set of
hands in the backfield. This pick is similar to the
Rams' selection of RB Trung Canidate a year ago.
TENNESSEE TE Shad Meier. Why a tight end this early
(second round)? Better yet, why Meier? This position
is very important to the Titans, but this pick defies
logic. He was projected for the seventh round.
Team Bottom Line
SEATTLE Mike Holmgren was the big winner this year. The
Seahawks focused on defense in free agency, which
enabled them to concentrate almost exclusively on
offense in the draft. Grade: A
SAN DIEGO The Chargers Came away with everything they
could have hoped for--a stud runner (LaDainian
Tomlinson) and a promising passer (Brees).
Grade: A
DETROIT Millen couldn't have done any better in his first
draft. The Lions got stronger in the trenches on both
sides of the ball with three potential impact players
(Jeff Backus, Raiola and Shaun Rogers). Grade: A-
ST. LOUIS The Rams upgraded the overall athleticism of
their defense in the first round by taking Lewis,
Adam Archuleta and Pickett. LB Tommy Polley and
trading for CB Aeneas Williams also help. Grade: A-
WASHINGTON The team had plenty of needs to address, but
taking WR Rod Gardner in the first round was a good
decision. Often compared to Cris Carter, Gardner
should fit well with QB Jeff George. Grade: A-
NEW YORK To the casual fan, this doesn't appear to be a
great draft. But it is. G.M. Ernie Accorsi did a
tremendous job with his top four picks and added
depth at cornerback. Grade: B+
BALTIMORE Another strong effort by Ozzie Newsome and his
staff. They landed an offensive weapon (Heap), a big
cover man (Gary Baxter) and a replacement (Casey
Rabach) for departed C Jeff Mitchell. Grade: B+
GREEN BAY Ron Wolf's farewell draft ultimately will be
remembered for the selection of Reynolds. Wolf and
his staff did an excellent job of upgrading the overall
athleticism of the defense. Grade: B+
CINCINNATI Despite having the league's smallest scouting
department, the Bengals did a nice job. As is the
case in most years, the Bengals stayed put and let
the draft come to them. Grade: B+
CLEVELAND This was the team's best draft since its rebirth. A
tremendous first day landed three players (Warren,
WR Quincy Morgan and RB James Jackson) who
should become starters this season. Grade: B
KC When evaluating the Chiefs' work, you have to
factor in the trade for QB Trent Green, who will have
a greater impact than anyone the team would have
added with the No. 12 pick. Grade: B
ATLANTA QB Michael Vick isn't a sure thing, but he has the
potential to revolutionize the position. Teams rarely
thrive without making bold moves, and the Falcons
deserve credit for a bold jump. Grade: B
SF Instead of trading down, which is typical Bill
Welsh fashion, the Niners moved up to get DE Andre
Carter. The trio of Carter, Winborn and Barlow should
help the team's rebuilding efforts. Grade: B
MINNESOTA This could turn out to be one of Green's best
drafts. Along with the Bennett pick, the Vikings had
glaring needs at cornerback and defensive tackle,
and they got two of each. Grade: B
TAMPA BAY It was a difficult decision, but giving up their
second-round pick in order to get a player of
Walker's ability is why the Bucs have arguably the
most talented roster in the league. Grade: B-
CHICAGO For the second year in a row, Mark Hatley got
lucky, as was the case when LB Brian Urlacher fell
in his lap last April. It's hard to fault any of his
picks because each one addressed a need. Grade: B-
DALLAS Aside from Carter, there weren't any impact
picks, but the Cowboys really helped themselves on
defense. Including Dixon, there are four players who
should contribute in some form in the fall. Grade: B-
JACKSONVILLE In a few years, this could end up looking like a
terrific draft. However, until some of the Jaguars'
picks turn potential into production, the grade can't
be high. Grade: B-
OAKLAND The Raiders came away with everything they
could have hoped for--and more. Gibson and
Tuiasosopo fill obvious holes, and BE DeLawrence
Grant was a steal in the third round. Grade: B-
PHILADELPHIA First-round pick Freddie Mitchell is the play-
maker this team has lacked for two years. Unlike
last year's second-round pick of Todd Pinkston,
Mitchell is prepared to help immediately. Grade: B-
NEW ENGLAND The team didn't do well on the first day. But
Sunday was different. Drew Bledsoe needed a tight
end, so the Patriots took two of the best available
(Jabari Holloway, Arthur Love). Grade: C+
CAROLINA LB Dan Morgan gives the Panthers two things
they lacked a year ago--speed and playmaking
ability on defense. Aside from Morgan and Weinke,
this was a mediocre draft. Grade: C+
BUFFALO G.M. Tom Donahoe's first draft with his new team
is tough to evaluate. The Bills landed some talented
players, but first-round CB Nate Clements could be
the only one with a large role this fall. Grade: C+
MIAMI The team really likes its first two picks, and it
made some good choices after that. Sunday
selections like OT Brandon Winey and QB Josh
Heupel could be better than expected. Grade: C+
JETS Unless they knew something others didn't,
trading away two picks to move up three spots--for
Santana Moss--in the first round was a question-
able move. Otherwise, they were solid. Grade: C
ARIZONA The team already was solid at offensive tackle,
so it's hard to comprehend its ignoring more glaring
needs on the defensive line. Gerard Warren or Justin
Smith would have made more sense. Grade: C-
STEELERS Moving down a few spots in the first round in
exchange for an extra pick was a sound maneuver.
Bell and DT Casey Hampton were nice additions, but
some of the later picks were shaky. Grade: C-
DENVER None of the picks appears to be an immediate
upgrade--even first-round CB Willie Middlebrooks.
Getting players such as Hamilton, P Nick Harris and
WR Kevin Kasper made for a solid Day 2. Grade: D+
INDIANAPOLIS Unless Bashir breaks out, there doesn't seem to
be an impact player in the bunch. The Colts have
some obvious needs on the defensive line that were
not addressed. Grade: D
NEW ORLEANS There doesn't seem to be a real method to the
madness in New Orleans. The Saints spent two of
their top four picks on running backs, and the
defense was all but ignored. Grade: D
TENNESSEE The Titans' grade improves once you consider
former Rams DE Kevin Carter came over in a trade.
G.M. Floyd Reese had a much better second day
than first in this draft. Grade: D
Sporting News, The, April 30, 2001
All 31 teams came looking to restock their supplies for another
NFL survival test. Some teams picked up only the bare necessities,
while others came away more than replenished. Although not a single
down has been played by any of the 246 players selected in last
weekend's draft, it's not too early for an analysis of the best
and the worst picks of each team that includes overall grades.
Team Rk. Best pick
SEATTLE 1 G Steve Hutchinson. This wasn't a glaring need
because Chris Gray and Robbie Tobeck are adequate
options inside, but the Seahawks were smart not
to pass over Hutchinson.
SAN DIEGO 2 QB Drew Brees. G.M. John Butler couldn't have
planned it better himself, Brees' fall wasn't a
huge shock, but the Chargers didn't expect to
get a player like him after trading away the
top pick.
DETROIT 3 C Dominic Raiola. This was truly an outstanding
pick by Matt Millen and Co. The Lions have been
trying to find a competent snapper since they
lost Kevin Glover, and Raiola is the answer.
ST. LOUIS 4 DT Damione Lewis. The Rams felt bad letting go
of D'Marco Farr, but Lewis should ease the pain.
The most disruptive tackle in the draft, Lewis
will spend most of his time in opposing
backfields.
WASHINGTON 5 CB Fred Smoot. He was the top cover player on
some draft beards, se the Commanders were shocked
he was still available in Round 2. It's possible
that Smoot will be relegated to a dime role as a
rookie.
NY 6 CB William Merson. The Giants have a history
of picking Michigan players. Peterson is from
Western Illinois ... after transferring from
Michigan. He has a chance to start as a rookie.
BALTIMORE 7 TIE Todd Heap. A mid-first-round talent taken
with the final pick of the first round. New QB
Elvis Grbac loves to go to his tight ends, and
Heap should help Shannon Sharpe control the
middle of the field.
GREEN BAY 8 DE Jamal Reynolds. The Packers haven't had a
presence on the edge since Reggie White retired,
but Reynolds should solve that problem. As a
rookie, he probably will platoon with John
Thierry.
CINCINNATI 9 WR Chad Johnson. At one point in the predraft
process, Johnson was considered a top-10 pick. He
dominated at the Senior Bowl and should give the
Bengals great flexibility in the passing game.
CLEVELAND 10 DT Gerard Warren. The Browns could have gone
in a number of directions, but Warren is the
inside run stuffer they have lacked for two
years. Orpheus Roye and Stalin Colinet were
out-of-position ends.
KC 11 RD Derrick Blaylock, This pint-sized, small-
school product could develop into a quality
third-down back. He gives the Chiefs another
option in the return game, too.
ATLANTA 12 C Robert Garza. The Falcons were desperate for
interior line help, and this fourth-round pick
could provide relief immediately. A small-school
player, he was impressive against top talent at
the Senior Bowl.
SF 13 RB Kevan Barlow. The loss of free-agent Charlie
Garner made finding a running back essential,
Barlow is an all-purpose back who fills a huge
void in the team's West Coast offense.
MINNESOTA 14 RB Michael Bennett. His running style and track
background make him very similar to Robert Smith.
He's unproven in the passing game but adds a home
run dimension in the backfield.
TAMPA BAY 15 OT Kenyatta Walker. The first round couldn't
have unfolded any better for the Bucs, who
ultimately got the left tackle they've been
desperately seeking the entire offseason,
CHICAGO 16 WR David Terrell. It was shocking to see Terrell
slide this far (No. 8 overall). The Bears
desperately need playmakers on offense, and they
got arguably the best one in the draft here.
DALLAS 17 QB Quincy Carter. The Cowboys are excited
about this pick, and they have good reason to
be. He won't start as a rookie, but his upside
is great. He could be around as long as Troy
Aikman.
JACKSONVILLE 18 S James Boyd. Some scouts believe that Boyd
will be a better pro than he was a college
player. He is an instinctive player, and his
incredible postseason workouts provide great
promise.
OAKLAND 19 S Derrick Gibson. The Raiders have been trying
to eliminate their problems at safety the past
couple of years. This move does just that. They
are glad this potential Pro Bowl player fell
into their hands.
PHILADELPHIA 20 RB Correll Buckhalter. The Eagles failed
miserably on the ground following Duce Staley's
injury last season. Getting Buckhalter gives
them a nice backup and goal-line option.
NEW ENGLAND 21 OT Kenyatta Jones. The Patriots used their time
on Saturday night wisely and moved up to get
this underrated tackle with the opening pick
on the second day.
CAROLINA 22 QB Chris Weinke. This is exactly where TSN had
Weinke slotted to go (44). It's a pick with
great value for the Panthers. With his maturity,
it's possible Weinke might start some as a
rookie.
BUFFALO 23 OT Jonas Jennings. This franchise is known for
uncovering offensive line gems in the later
rounds, and this pick could continue the
tradition, Sixth- round pick S Tony Driver was
a nice choice too.
MIAMI 24 WR Chris Chambers. The addition of Chambers
and the free-agent signings of wideouts James
McKnight and Dedric Ward should really help the
team's passing game.
JETS 25 OT Kareem McKenzie. He might not start
immediately, but you can never have enough
competition at tackle. Some team insiders think
McKenzie can move inside and play guard.
ARIZONA 26 DT Mario Fatafehi. Considering when the Cards
got him--fifth round, 133rd overall--Fatafehi
was a nice value. He and second-round pick DE
Kyle Vanden Bosch should contribute as rookies.
STEELERS 27 LB Kendrell Bell. A great pick. Bell is a
perfect fit for the Steelers' 3-4 scheme. The
big knock on him is that he's undisciplined, but
he will respond to coach Bill Cowher.
DENVER 28 C Ben Hamilton. This is the type of undersized,
intelligent lineman that the Broncos have won
with for years. Hamilton will be groomed as the
eventual successor to Pro Bowl C Tom Nalen.
INDIANAPOLIS 29 S Idrees Bashir. The Colts have been unhappy
with their secondary situation the past couple of
years. Bashir, who covers plenty of ground in the
deep third, will be an upgrade.
NEW ORLEANS 30 WR Onome Ojo. Randy Mueller has done a great
job of improving his team's speed on the
perimeter Ojo should help in that category,
even if he has played football for only three
years.
TENNESSEE 31 LB Keith Adams. A young prospect with great
natural tools; his father played with the
Patriots Adams has been around the game and
knows what it takes to get the job done.
Team Worst pick
SEATTLE CB Curtis Fuller. Seattle had an outstanding
weekend, but it might have reached a bit on the
speedy Fuller. He's too short to play his natural
safety position at the pro level.
SAN DIEGO LB Carlos Polk. The Chargers ended Polk's slide
early on Day 2. This is another fine player, but he
fits best in a 3-4 scheme. The Chargers are confident
Polk will hold up in a 4-3. We'll see.
DETROIT WR Scotty Anderson. It's unfair to label this a
"worst pick," but the Lions could have added
cornerback help at this point. Anderson, who did
some nice things at the Senior Bowl, has potential.
ST. LOUIS DT Ryan Pickett. A rule of thumb on draft day is
to be aware of other teams' draft boards. He has a
nice upside, but the Rams didn't have to jump so
soon. He was only a third-rounder to most teams.
WASHINGTON QB Sage Rosenfels. Marty Schottenheimer was
hoping he would land Chris Weinke but settled for
Rosenfels. Adding a young arm is good, but Jesse
Palmer and Mike McMahon are better.
NY K John Markham. The team is desperate to find
a replacement for Brad Daluiso, but Markham isn't
the answer. Not only were there better kickers
available, nobody else wanted Markham.
BALTIMORE RB Chris Barnes. The loss of RB Priest Holmes
forced this move, but the Ravens could have done
better. Unless they know something we don't, he
was sure to be an undrafted free agent.
GREEN BAY LB Torrance Marshall. This is another selection
by default. There's much to like about Marshall, and
he brings speed to the middle linebacker spot. But
Bernardo Harris will keep him on the bench.
CINCINNATI TE Sean Brewer. A late riser on most teams'
boards. The Bengals pulled the trigger too early with
him. Still, addressing the need for a pass-catching
tight end was a good move.
CLEVELAND S Anthony Henry. Not a top-100 player, but the
Browns didn't agree. It's a surprise to see him get
drafted at all let alone in the fourth round. He could
really struggle at the next level.
KC DT Eric Downing. The Chiefs had more
questionable picks than any other team. They like
Downing's steady development, but they get a low
mark here based on what most scouts said.
ATLANTA TE Alge Crumpler. Instead of an impact receiver
or defensive lineman, the team picked another tight
end (it picked O.J. Santiago in '97, Reggie Kelly in
99). He has a huge upside, but the logic is puzzling.
SF LB Jamie Winborn. Considering Jerry Rice's
pending release and a nagging leg injury to Tai
Streets, the Niners would have been better off
addressing the receiver position in Round 2.
MINNESOTA WR Cedric James. He fits the big-receiver mold
that Dennis Green covets, but there were better
receivers on the board at the time (fourth round). He
figures to be a practice squad body.
TAMPA BAY S John Howell. This was a safe pick for the
Buts, and it gives them another physical presence
in the deep secondary. The problem is Howell likely
would have been available in the later rounds.
CHICAGO G Mike Gandy. Before fans get too upset in
Chicago, please realize this is a good pick. The
Bears did such a good job in the early rounds, there
was no choice but to put Gandy in this category.
DALLAS S Tony Dixon. Not a bad player, but they could
have waited until the third round to get him. Dixon
provides great run support from the secondary, but
he has a long way to go in terms of coverage skills.
JACKSONVILLE DT Marcus Stroud. He was not the 13th-best
player, but he does give the Jaguars a wide body to
stop the run. He plays too high, and his weight will
always be a concern.
OAKLAND QB Marques Tuiasosopo. There's no doubting
Jon Gruden's ability to evaluate quarterbacks, but
Tuiasosopo would have been around in the third or
even the fourth round. He does have a lot upside.
PHILADELPHIA TE Tony Stewart. The Eagles would be foolish to
go with Stewart as primary backup for Chad Lewis
this season. Stewart is not ready to contribute in the
NFL, especially in short-yardage situations.
NEW ENGLAND G Matt Light. He isn't a bad player, but the
Patriots didn't need to trade up to get him. He will
help fix some pass-protection problems on the
interior, but was he worth wasting two picks?
CAROLINA WR Steve Smith. He isn't ready to contribute at
receiver, and it's doubtful he will wrestle the
kickoff-return chores from Michael Bates. The Panthers
spent a third-round pick on a punt returner.
BUFFALO RB Travis Henry. He indeed has second-round
talent, but is he really an upgrade over what the
Bills already have? Sammy Morris and Shawn
Bryson could keep Henry on the bench as a rookie.
MIAMI CB Jamar Fletcher. The Dolphins have the best
cover tandem in the league (Sam Madison and
Patrick Surtain) and a promising young nickel player
(Ben Kelly), so the logic here is questionable.
JETS RB LaMont Jordan. This wasn't a "need" pick,
but Jordan gives the Jets a tremendous insurance
policy behind Curtis Martin. Still they really should
have addressed the defensive line here.
ARIZONA CB Michael Stone. The Cards made a couple of
strange picks, but taking Stone so high (second
round 54th overall) was the most puzzling. Most
teams had him slotted for the fifth round or lower.
STEELERS DE Rodney Bailey. The team projects him as a
defensive end in its defense, but regardless of
where he lines Lip Bailey doesn't look like he can
play in the NFL The Steelers really missed here.
DENVER DE Paul Toviessi. This was a questionable pick
to begin with, and trading up to get him in the
second round makes even less sense, DE Reggie
Hayward, the third-rounder, is better.
INDIANAPOLIS WR Reggie Wayne. He's a solid player, but there
really isn't much upside here. The Colts need
someone to complement Marvin Harrison; Chad
Johnson was that guy.
NEW ORLEANS RB Deuce McAllister. He provides a solid
insurance policy, not to mention a better set of
hands in the backfield. This pick is similar to the
Rams' selection of RB Trung Canidate a year ago.
TENNESSEE TE Shad Meier. Why a tight end this early
(second round)? Better yet, why Meier? This position
is very important to the Titans, but this pick defies
logic. He was projected for the seventh round.
Team Bottom Line
SEATTLE Mike Holmgren was the big winner this year. The
Seahawks focused on defense in free agency, which
enabled them to concentrate almost exclusively on
offense in the draft. Grade: A
SAN DIEGO The Chargers Came away with everything they
could have hoped for--a stud runner (LaDainian
Tomlinson) and a promising passer (Brees).
Grade: A
DETROIT Millen couldn't have done any better in his first
draft. The Lions got stronger in the trenches on both
sides of the ball with three potential impact players
(Jeff Backus, Raiola and Shaun Rogers). Grade: A-
ST. LOUIS The Rams upgraded the overall athleticism of
their defense in the first round by taking Lewis,
Adam Archuleta and Pickett. LB Tommy Polley and
trading for CB Aeneas Williams also help. Grade: A-
WASHINGTON The team had plenty of needs to address, but
taking WR Rod Gardner in the first round was a good
decision. Often compared to Cris Carter, Gardner
should fit well with QB Jeff George. Grade: A-
NEW YORK To the casual fan, this doesn't appear to be a
great draft. But it is. G.M. Ernie Accorsi did a
tremendous job with his top four picks and added
depth at cornerback. Grade: B+
BALTIMORE Another strong effort by Ozzie Newsome and his
staff. They landed an offensive weapon (Heap), a big
cover man (Gary Baxter) and a replacement (Casey
Rabach) for departed C Jeff Mitchell. Grade: B+
GREEN BAY Ron Wolf's farewell draft ultimately will be
remembered for the selection of Reynolds. Wolf and
his staff did an excellent job of upgrading the overall
athleticism of the defense. Grade: B+
CINCINNATI Despite having the league's smallest scouting
department, the Bengals did a nice job. As is the
case in most years, the Bengals stayed put and let
the draft come to them. Grade: B+
CLEVELAND This was the team's best draft since its rebirth. A
tremendous first day landed three players (Warren,
WR Quincy Morgan and RB James Jackson) who
should become starters this season. Grade: B
KC When evaluating the Chiefs' work, you have to
factor in the trade for QB Trent Green, who will have
a greater impact than anyone the team would have
added with the No. 12 pick. Grade: B
ATLANTA QB Michael Vick isn't a sure thing, but he has the
potential to revolutionize the position. Teams rarely
thrive without making bold moves, and the Falcons
deserve credit for a bold jump. Grade: B
SF Instead of trading down, which is typical Bill
Welsh fashion, the Niners moved up to get DE Andre
Carter. The trio of Carter, Winborn and Barlow should
help the team's rebuilding efforts. Grade: B
MINNESOTA This could turn out to be one of Green's best
drafts. Along with the Bennett pick, the Vikings had
glaring needs at cornerback and defensive tackle,
and they got two of each. Grade: B
TAMPA BAY It was a difficult decision, but giving up their
second-round pick in order to get a player of
Walker's ability is why the Bucs have arguably the
most talented roster in the league. Grade: B-
CHICAGO For the second year in a row, Mark Hatley got
lucky, as was the case when LB Brian Urlacher fell
in his lap last April. It's hard to fault any of his
picks because each one addressed a need. Grade: B-
DALLAS Aside from Carter, there weren't any impact
picks, but the Cowboys really helped themselves on
defense. Including Dixon, there are four players who
should contribute in some form in the fall. Grade: B-
JACKSONVILLE In a few years, this could end up looking like a
terrific draft. However, until some of the Jaguars'
picks turn potential into production, the grade can't
be high. Grade: B-
OAKLAND The Raiders came away with everything they
could have hoped for--and more. Gibson and
Tuiasosopo fill obvious holes, and BE DeLawrence
Grant was a steal in the third round. Grade: B-
PHILADELPHIA First-round pick Freddie Mitchell is the play-
maker this team has lacked for two years. Unlike
last year's second-round pick of Todd Pinkston,
Mitchell is prepared to help immediately. Grade: B-
NEW ENGLAND The team didn't do well on the first day. But
Sunday was different. Drew Bledsoe needed a tight
end, so the Patriots took two of the best available
(Jabari Holloway, Arthur Love). Grade: C+
CAROLINA LB Dan Morgan gives the Panthers two things
they lacked a year ago--speed and playmaking
ability on defense. Aside from Morgan and Weinke,
this was a mediocre draft. Grade: C+
BUFFALO G.M. Tom Donahoe's first draft with his new team
is tough to evaluate. The Bills landed some talented
players, but first-round CB Nate Clements could be
the only one with a large role this fall. Grade: C+
MIAMI The team really likes its first two picks, and it
made some good choices after that. Sunday
selections like OT Brandon Winey and QB Josh
Heupel could be better than expected. Grade: C+
JETS Unless they knew something others didn't,
trading away two picks to move up three spots--for
Santana Moss--in the first round was a question-
able move. Otherwise, they were solid. Grade: C
ARIZONA The team already was solid at offensive tackle,
so it's hard to comprehend its ignoring more glaring
needs on the defensive line. Gerard Warren or Justin
Smith would have made more sense. Grade: C-
STEELERS Moving down a few spots in the first round in
exchange for an extra pick was a sound maneuver.
Bell and DT Casey Hampton were nice additions, but
some of the later picks were shaky. Grade: C-
DENVER None of the picks appears to be an immediate
upgrade--even first-round CB Willie Middlebrooks.
Getting players such as Hamilton, P Nick Harris and
WR Kevin Kasper made for a solid Day 2. Grade: D+
INDIANAPOLIS Unless Bashir breaks out, there doesn't seem to
be an impact player in the bunch. The Colts have
some obvious needs on the defensive line that were
not addressed. Grade: D
NEW ORLEANS There doesn't seem to be a real method to the
madness in New Orleans. The Saints spent two of
their top four picks on running backs, and the
defense was all but ignored. Grade: D
TENNESSEE The Titans' grade improves once you consider
former Rams DE Kevin Carter came over in a trade.
G.M. Floyd Reese had a much better second day
than first in this draft. Grade: D
