NFL Draft
A Different Look at the 2004 Rookie Draft
By Paul R. Valcore
Apr 19, 2004, 00:06

1. San Diego Chargers: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss. The Chargers cannot trade this pick. They need a QB and Manning is clearly a franchise player. In later rounds, they can grab the LB, OL, and WR that they need.

2. (Projected Trade) Washington Redskins: Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa. The Skins trade unhappy LT Chris Samuels to Oakland for the chance to grab a franchise LT.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pitt. The only player that Dennis Green really wants. It may not be their greatest need, but Fitzgerald will be a star. Green wrongly thinks Josh McCown will be their future QB. Time will tell. In the second round, look for Arizona to draft a DT like Marcus Tubbs of Texas.

4. New York Giants: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami of Ohio. NY takes a QB for the future. In the second round they can draft Kelly Butler of Purdue for their OT needs.

5. (Projected Trade) Oakland Raiders: Kellen Winslow, TE, Miami. If the trade goes through, Oakland grabs a stud that fits the Al Davis mold. If not, they take Gallery. In the second round, expect Oakland to draft the DL or LB.

6. Detroit Lions: Roy Williams, WR, Texas. If Winslow is available, Detroit takes him to fill a TE pass catching need. If not, they take the best offensive player on the board, which is clearly Roy Williams. Teaming with Charles Rogers will make Detroit an offensive power. In the second round, Detroit can grab a good RB in Chris Perry, Greg Jones or Maurice Clarett.

7. Cleveland Browns: Sean Taylor, S, Miami. Butch Davis loves his Miami guys. Taylor will be an All Pro for 10 years. The Browns can fill their greatest need, OL, in the second round.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma. Atlanta may also take one of the Williams’ at WR, but I expect Jim Mora to draft the best DT to fill in their new 4-3 defense. They can grab a speedy receiver like Devery Henderson or a possession receiver like Rashaun Woods in the second round.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mike Williams, WR, USC.. The Jags may draft either Udeze or Smith at DE, but look for them to fill an obvious need on offense with a stud WR like Mike Williams, who is from Florida. The Jags can draft Marquise Hill at DE in the second round if he falls that far.

10. Houston Texans: Kenechi Udeze, DE, USC. The Texans greatest need is at DE and CB. They could take Hall, but their pass rush was abysmal last year. Udeze is a strong run defender as well as a good pass rusher, so he fits the 3-4 perfectly. The Texans can still grab a starting CB in the second round with either Ahmad Carroll or Derrick Strait.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers: Phillip Rivers, QB, N.C. State. The worst kept secret in football is that Pittsburgh covets Rivers as their future QB. He should be available. They can grab a solid CB prospect in round two.

12. New York Jets: DeAngelo Hall, CB, Va Tech. The Jets need a CB and some LB help. There are quality LB still available in the second round, like Teddy Lehman, so the Jets draft the best cover man available, who just happens to double as a kick returner.

13. Buffalo Bills: Will Smith, DE, Ohio St. The only other player the Bills want is Rivers, but he will be gone unless Buffalo trades up. Perhaps JP Losman will be available in round two for Buffalo to draft as a future QB.

14. Chicago Bears: Vince Wilfork, DT, Miami. Chicago clearly needs defensive help, especially on the line. With the two best pass rushers gone, they take the best run stuffer in the draft. In later rounds, they can draft a LB, like Michael Boulware.

15. Tampa Bay Bucs: D.J. Williams, LB, Miami. I project Tampa to go with defense. Unless Mike Williams is still available at WR, the Bucs will shore up a weakening defense with the best LB in the draft. Gruden didn’t pick up Garner because he plans to draft a RB. In the second round, the Bucs hope to steal Sean Jones, S, Georgia.

16. San Francisco 49ers: Reggie Williams, WR, Washington. The most obvious need in this draft is a WR in San Francisco. The 49ers will take whoever is still available with this pick. In the second round, they may take another WR, like Michael Jenkins of Ohio State, or a DT, like Igor Olshansky, from Oregon.

17. (From Cincinnati in Trade) Denver Broncos: Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon St. Mike Shanahan did not trade up with Cinci to pick anything less than a starting RB. Jackson fits Denver’s system perfectly. In later rounds, they can grab the LB help they need.

18. New Orleans Saints: Dunta Robinson, CB, So. Carolina. The Saints want a shutdown corner and Robinson fits the bill.

19. (Projected Trade) Dallas Cowboys: Kevin Jones, RB, Va Tech. Dallas desperately needs a starting RB so they trade up to grab Jones out from under New England’s nose. In the second round, they draft Jacob Rogers, T, USC to fill a hole in their OL.

20 Miami Dolphins: Shawn Williams, OT, Arkansas. Miami needs a strong RT to complete their decimated OL. Williams is the only first round talent still available, although Vernon Carey from Miami is thought to be RT talent.

21. (From Baltimore in Trade) New England Patriots: Chris Gamble, CB, Ohio St. New England needs an heir apparent to Ty Law.

22. (Projected Trade) Minnesota Vikings: Jonathon Vilma, LB, Miami. The Vikings biggest need is for a fast LB. Vilma is the fastest and best tackler. The Vikings can get him and a little extra from Dallas for moving down.

23. Seattle Seahawks: Darnell Dockett, DT, Fla St. The Seahawks filled some needs during the offseason. With the best LB drafted, they grab a strong DT who can rush the passer.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: Randy Starks, DT, Maryland. The Bengals need a strong run stuffing DT. Its Starks or Tubbs, but Starks has more of an upside. In the second round, they may draft another CB, like Ahmad Carroll.

25. Green Bay Packers: Marquise Hill, DE, LSU. The Pack do not take Losman as everyone predicts. They are waiting for Cleveland to release Tim Couch. They are more likely to take Rashaun Woods at WR. However, their biggest need is clearly a pass rushing DE to take the stress off KGB. Hill is a big strong DE with a future.

26. St. Louis Rams: Ben Troupe, TE, Florida. The Rams have strengthened their defense in the past few drafts. Martz wants a pass catching TE and Troupe is the best available after Winslow. In later rounds, expect St. Louis to draft either Julius Jones or Tatum Bell as the heir to Faulk at RB.

27. Tennessee Titans: Antwan Odom, DE, Alabama. After losing the Freak and DT Robaire Smith, the Titans need DL help. Odom is the best pass rusher after Hill is gone. With most of the higher profile DT drafted, the Titans will wait until the second round to draft a DT like Donnell Washington.

28. Philadelphia Eagles: Will Poole, CB, USC. Philly needs a starting CB desperately. Poole has the ability to be a shutdown corner. In the second, look for Philly to draft a LB.

29. Indianapolis Colts: Karlos Dansby, LB, Auburn. Indy needs a LB and some corner help. Dansby is the best LB available so they grab him now and look for a quality CB to fall in the second round.

30. Kansas City Chiefs: Michael Clayton, WR, LSU. KC needs a WR badly. They like Clayton a lot.

31. Carolina Panthers: Rashaun Woods, WR, Oklahoma St. Their only other need is at CB, but no one worth a first round pick is still available. Carolina grabs a solid possession receiver to keep their offense in high gear.

32. New England Patriots: Chris Perry, RB, Michigan. The Pats must draft a RB in the first round. If they cannot get Jones or Jackson, they will draft Perry or Greg Jones here.