2003 NFL Draft Review
Our 2004 NFL Draft Preview debuts on Monday May 5th.
After watching the NFL Draft unfold this weekend I came away with a few observations...If the Arizona Cardinals had a clue, they'd be dangerous...How can a team that needs a "difference maker" on their Defense pass on the Best Pass-Rusher in the Draft - Terrell Suggs...Suggs would have been a perfect fit for the Cards because he was actually one of the few prospects in the Draft that wanted to play for the Cardinals....not only do they trade out of that pick... but then they really reached for DE Calvin Pace with the 18th pick in the Draft....if they wanted a pass rusher that bad they should have kept the 6th pick in the Draft and taken Suggs...but that's not it...not only did the Cardinals fail to land one of the top 6 Prospects in the Draft when they had the chance to do so they switched picks with the Saints (their trading partner) in the second round moving from #37 to #54....thats why they're the Cardinals...a team that will be Drafting in the top 6 once again next year....I have one thing to say to the Vikings....clock management!...if you're going to make a trade and are on the phone you have to allow yourself a cut-off point to finalize a deal....that's two years in a row now for them....I won't say anything else about that debacle because I feel the Vikings had a pretty good Draft....finally...after updating my first round Mock Draft a zillion times before I felt I got it right I wound up with 21 out of 32 picks going in the first round mainly because of teams like the Cardinals who extended their arms and reached in the first round...I will say this however...I amazingly nailed the Eagles - Chargers trade which saw the Eagles trading up 15 spots to take DE Jerome McDougle...quite a guess!...well I must admit I did have a little help with that one...that Cab Driver that Chris Berman knows...well... I know him too!
Draft Grades
I was going to do a lengthy review... but since our 2004 NFL Draft Preview debuts in less than a week I will make this review brief but to the point....because it's impossible to say who had the best or worst Draft without the players taking the field for the first time...my review will indicate which teams landed the best quality prospects and filled their needs at the same time.
The Winners
Jacksonville Jaguars - They stold Leftwich in the first...added a potential difference maker in Rashean Mathis in the second and their next 3 picks ( G- Manuwai, TE Wrighster and HB Toefield)have the potential to start for the team down the road
Baltimore Ravens - They were able to land Suggs with the 10th pick after failing to complete a trade with the Vikings that would have gotten them Leftwich then they were able to take Boller later in the round and Musa Smith in the second.....the next 6 players (DE J. Johnson, FB Mughelli, DT Franklin, T Pashos, S Sapp and TE Smith) should all contribute and make the team.
Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals finally had a good Draft!...they drafted 6 potential starters - Qb Palmer, G Steinbach, WR Washington, CB Weathersby, FB Johnson and LB Abdullah.
Detroit Lions - The Lions came out of this Draft with 5 potential starters - Wr Rogers, LB Bailey, DE Redding, HB Pinner, S Holt and keep and eye on late rounders Wr Kircus and CB Adams.
New England Patriots - Ty Warren will be a solid starter for the Pats and CB Wilson and WR Johnson will also contribute right away...their next 3 picks were solid - Dt Klecko, CB Samuel, C Koppen and keep an eye on these late rounders - TE Nead and DE Cain....to top it off they acquired an extra 1st and 2nd round pick in the 2004 Draft.
St. Louis Rams - Good Draft!...they took DT Kennedy in the first and Lb Tinoisamoa in the second - both should be instant starters...their next 6 picks were solid and should contribute - WR Curtis, Wr McDonald, CB Groce, TE Curley, DB Walton, and CB Garrett.
San Diego Chargers - They needed to improve their secondary in the Draft and did they ever!
CB Davis, CB Florence and S Kiel will all contribute early on and the rest of their picks shoud all make the team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Yes I like the Bucs Draft because they did't have a first round pick but they were still able to make things happen and fill some needs...DE White in the second round will prove to be a steal as will 3rd round pick QB Simms who will learn under Gruden and eventually be the Bucs starting QB...T Nimmo, C King and G Mahan all filled needs on their O-Line and their last pick CB Cox fits the mold of a Buccaneer DB.
Buffalo Bills - No guts, no glory!...that phrase best describes the Bills Draft...the Bills wanted a DE or a DT in the first round... but since their was a run on them early they went best athlete available on their board...taking McGahee was a risk but their medical staff feels he will fully recover from the injury...they could have taken DE Kelsay in the first but landed him in the second...Lb Crowell is a football player period...4th round pick CB McGee fills a need and is a good return man...WR Aiken could turn out to be one of the Drafts sleepers while G Sobieski will add some depth on the O-Line....the Bills last 2 picks DT Sape and LB Haggan both have a chance to make the team.
The Losers
These teams didn't add much quality to their roster through the Draft.
Atlanta Falcons
Im not counting the Peerless Price addition.
Cleveland Brown
They didn't know that HB Suggs will likely miss the 2003 season because of an injury.
Kansas City Chiefs
Poor Draft strategy and reach, reach, reach, reach, reach.
Miami Dolphins
They seemed to be one step behind during the entire Draft...boy do they miss Jimmy Johnson.
New York Jets
Other than Robertson what did they get?...where's the Receiver?
Washington Redskins
I know most of their picks were spent on veterans...but I'm not sold on what they did.
Our 2004 NFL Draft Preview debuts on Monday May 5th.
