The 2004 NFL Football Draft

[POJO_Risin]

Here's your place to post about the draft that comes in April I think...yeah...Super Bowl hasn't happened yet...but the two months up to the draft is almost as fun...

If you come across a mock draft...post it...

the whole thing...and let us know where it came from...

I'll cut and paste RBW's from earlier...

[POJO_Risin]

1. San Diego Chargers: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss
Drew Brees has not proven himself as a player who will ultimately be a starter in the NFL, and while the Chargers also have needs at OT, WR, DT and LB, passing up a blue-chip quarterback like Manning is tough to do, especially considering they passed on Michael Vick a couple years ago.


Larry Fitzgerald has the hands and body control to make the tough catches.
2. Oakland Raiders: *Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh
The Raiders certainly could use a quarterback, with Rich Gannon getting up there in age, but Fitzgerald would be a good complement to the big, athletic Jerry Porter at wideout. There is also need at DL and S, but Fitzgerald has all the skills you look for in a receiver.

3. Arizona Cardinals: *Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami-Ohio
Josh McCown is an adequate QB, but Roethlisberger will give new coach Dennis Green a potential star. DL is also a need area, but no linemen are worthy of the No. 3 pick, so the Cardinals would do well to upgrade the most important position on the field.

4. New York Giants: Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa
Getting a player like Gallery -- the prototype left tackle -- would be a huge help to QB Kerry Collins, who was beaten up big-time this season. The Giants also need help along the DL and at S, but Gallery will step in immediately and fill a big hole.

5. Washington Redskins: *Kellen Winslow, TE, Miami-Fla.
The TE position is always important in a Joe Gibbs offense, and Winslow will give the Redskins a multi-dimensional talent at that position, one that could be utilized creatively by Gibbs and his staff. DL and RB are also need positions in Washington, but it will be hard to pass up an athlete like Winslow at this spot.

6. Detroit Lions: *Sean Taylor, S, Miami-Fla.
The Lions need to get the best impact player still on the board at either WR, RB, DE, CB or S, and Taylor looks to be that guy. Taylor is to the safety position at Miami what Ray Lewis was to the MLB spot and has tremendous toughness.

7. Atlanta Falcons: *Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma
DT, OT, CB and WR are the need areas for the Falcons, and Harris wreaks havoc behind the line of scrimmage. He can cause problems for opposing QBs and was constantly triple-teamed in college.

8. Cleveland Browns: *Chris Gamble, CB, Ohio State
Gamble might be a slight reach here, but his upside is tremendous, and he capped his college career with a terrific game in Ohio State's Fiesta Bowl win over Kansas State. A roll of the dice, but if he can be coached up and improve his cover skills Gamble could be an impact player down the road.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Roy Williams, WR, Texas
The Jags need a complement to Jimmy Smith at wideout, and a reliable No. 2 option would certainly help the development of QB Byron Leftwich. Jacksonville also has needs at CB and DE.

10. Houston Texans: *Kenechi Udeze, DE, USC
A pass-rusher is the No. 1 need in Houston, and Udeze fits the mold. Originally a DT, Udeze has developed into a terrific strong-side DE and is ideally suited to the 3-4 scheme with his rush skills and ability to hold up against the run.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dunta Robinson, CB, South Carolina
The Steelers' secondary has been torched in recent years and Robinson is definitely worthy of a high pick. He is fundamentally sound and prepared to step in and become an immediate starter.

12. New York Jets: Jonathan Vilma, LB, Miami-Fla.
New York definitely needs help at WR and CB, but Vilma would give the Jets speed, athleticism and instincts to boost their LB corps.

13. Buffalo Bills: Will Smith, DE, Ohio State
A perfect fit. Smith would be the best player available at this point in the first round and fill a big-time need for the Bills, who could also use help at CB or WR.

14. Chicago Bears: *Kevin Jones, RB, Virginia Tech
Jones has size, breakaway speed and the ability to catch and block. He would be a good complement to Anthony Thomas, who is not quite the home run hitter Jones could be. The Bears might also look to upgrade at WR, DT or DB.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: *Shawn Andrews, OT, Arkansas
Andrews is a devastating run blocker who is also light on his feet and would upgrade the RT position dramatically for the Bucs. WR and TE are also areas of need in Tampa

[Troy]

I don't know who any of these guys are.

[POJO_Risin]

C'mon man...you know who Kellen Winslow is...

[ALinChainz]

http://www.gbnreport.com/2004projection.htm

2004 DRAFT PROJECTION
January 20, 2004
* indicates underclassman
First round 1 San Diego Eli Manning QB Mississippi
2 Oakland *Larry Fitzgerald WR Pittsburgh
3 Arizona *Ben Roethlisberger QB Miami (Ohio)
4 New York Giants Roy Williams WR Texas
5 Washington *Kenechi Udeze DE Southern California
6 Detroit *Sean Taylor FS Miami
7 Cleveland Robert Gallery OT Iowa
8 Atlanta *Shawn Andrews OT Arkansas
9 Jacksonville *Reggie Williams WR Washington
10 Houston *Kellen Winslow TE Miami
11 Pittsburgh *Steven Jackson RB Oregon State
12 New York Jets *Chris Gamble CB Ohio State
13 Buffalo *Tommie Harris DT Oklahoma
14 Chicago *Vince Wilfork DT Miami
15 Tampa Bay *Kevin Jones RB Virginia Tech
16 San Francisco Will Smith DE Ohio State
17 Cincinnati *Randy Starks DT Maryland
18 New Orleans D.J. Williams LB Miami
19 Minnesota Derrick Strait CB Oklahoma
20 Miami *Michael Clayton WR LSU
21 New England (from Baltimore) *Maurice Clarett RB Ohio State
22 Dallas Michael Jenkins WR Ohio State
23 Seattle *Antwan Odom DE Alabama
24 Denver *DeAngelo Hall CB Virginia Tech
25 Green Bay J.P. Losman QB Tulane
26 St. Louis *Sean Jones FS Georgia
27 Tennessee Karlos Dansby LB Auburn
28 Philadelphia Rashaun Woods WR Auburn
29 Indianapolis Marcus Tubbs DT Texas
30 Kansas City Will Poole CB Southern California
31 Carolina Dunta Robinson CB South Carolina
32 New England Jonathan Vilma LB Miami


Second round 33 Houston (from Oakland) No pick(1)
34 Arizona Chad Lavalais DT LSU
35. New York Giants Jacob Rogers OT Southern California
36. San Diego *Devard Darling WR Washington State
37. Detroit Chris Perry RB Michigan
38. (t)Atlanta Darnell Dockett DT Florida State
39. (t)Cleveland Keiwan Ratliff CB Florida
40. Jacksonville Jason Babin DE Western Michigan
41. Houston Dave Ball DE UCLA
42. Washington Ben Troupe TE Florida
43. New York Jets Ted Lehman LB Oklahoma
44. Buffalo Phil Rivers QB North Carolina State
45. Pittsburgh Nathan Vasher CB Texas
46. Oakland (from Tampa Bay) Vernon Carey OG Miami
47. San Francisco Lee Evans WR Wisconsin
48. Chicago *Kelly Butler OT Purdue
49. New Orleans *Matt Ware CB UCLA
50. Cincinnati Stuart Schweigert FS Purdue
51. Minnesota Bo Schobel DE Texas Christian
52. Baltimore *Derrick Hamilton WR Clemson
53. Dallas Michael Turner RB Northern Illinois
54. Seattle Dontarrious Thomas LB Auburn
55. Denver Dwan Edwards DT Oregon State
56. Green Bay Michael Boulware LB Florida State
57. New England (from Miami) Igor Olshansky DT Oregon
58. Tennessee Tim Anderson DT Ohio State
59. Philadelphia *Chris Snee OG Boston College
60. Indianapolis Keith Smith CB McNeese State
61. New Orleans (from St. Louis) *Ahmad Carroll CB Arkansas
62. Kansas City *Matthias Askew DT Micigan State
63. (sb)Carolina Keyaron Fox LB Georgia Tech
64. (sb)New England *Nat Dorsey OT Georgia Tech

[POJO_Risin]

Thanks Chainz...I can't see fucking Pittsburgh taking a rb in the first round...

but I could see Gamble drop that far...and Rivers getting taken with the pick before Pittsburgh...man...that would be a huge steal...

It would be a hard player to pass up...the number one back in the draft...but I don't see it as their number one need...

[POJO_Risin]

I'll post Kiper's bottom 16...

[ALinChainz]

I don't know about that either. To hear the Steelers talk, the Bus is done and Zereoue isn't sturdy enough. Rivers has played real well in the all-star games and the stuff about his release means nothing to me. If you can play, you can play. With QBs the mental aspect is as important, if not more.

[ALinChainz]

I am from Michigan and am hoping the Lions take a RB, but with Gibbs back in Washington now, and his game plan is usually a grinding running game, I'm thinking they will go Steven Jackson or Kevin Jones. It will be interesting to see where Winslow goes.

[POJO_Risin]

Yeah...Winslow is a wildcard...

I kinda thought that Gibbs would go with a big TE...

You know Joe would want to go back a year and get the original Stephen Davis back...lol...

Bettis' days as a starter are gone...

Z will be traded or cut...

and Vernon Hayes is a question mark...

so I could see them take a back number one...

rumor has it that they are searching for a way to get Larry Jackson from KC...even though he's a rapist or whatnot...

KC wants Burress...Pittsburgh wants Jackson and a first rounder...I'm assuming that first rounder would be used to get Rivers...we'll see...

[ALinChainz]

I agree because I don't see Houston taking him after signing Billy Miller to a contract extension this past year. Washington is more equipped at the moment to be a passing team with the receivers they have, the runningbacks and OL's they don't have. Maybe Winslow will go there. Someone will nab him early. Just started doing some research for my own mock draft on my football site so will be reading a lot of mock drafts and opinions on boards to formulate. Do you do any sports writing PoJo?

This is a good thread and will change a lot as the days go by leading up to the draft, April 24-25.

[POJO_Risin]

I have in the past done some sports writing...

mainly college...and a bit afterwards for a local paper in Cleveland...one of those freebies...but I had a commentary section every week...a lot of fun ripping the shit out of people every week...

why...

[POJO_Risin]

Yeah man...I love the speculation almost more than the season...especially with the first three rounds...and the hidden picks in the latter part of the draft...like the Texans taking Henson last year in the sixth round...and they'll end up with a first rounder for him...unless he starts for the Yanks this year...

[ALinChainz]

Always looking for good sports writers for my fantasy site. I didn't think it would hurt to ask, but I know with the Army getting back up and rolling that you would be pretty busy with it. We always hated the off season so we created this site.

It doesn't have to be just football either.

[ALinChainz]

Henson

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
Yeah man...I love the speculation almost more than the season...especially with the first three rounds...and the hidden picks in the latter part of the draft...like the Texans taking Henson last year in the sixth round...and they'll end up with a first rounder for him...unless he starts for the Yanks this year...

That was a smart pick by Houston because from all that I've been reading, Henson's baseball days are done.