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7. Baltimore Ravens - QB Byron Leftwich (Marshall)...The Ravens move up to this pick because they just dont know if Leftwich will be there for them at #10 with the Jaguars and Panthers picking ahead of them...this deal makes sence for both teams since the Vikings wanted to move down and Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome wanted to make sure that he was able to secure his QB of the future....the Ravens send the Vikings their third round pick this season and a second round pick in 2004 for moving up just 3 spots.

5. Dallas Cowboys - CB Terence Newman (Kansas State) ...The Cowboys almost completed a pre-draft deal and would have moved out of this pick but the Cowboys Medical Staff thoroughly checked out Newmans shoulder and they gave him a clean bill of health...Newman fills the Cowboys biggest need on the team and gives them the shutdown Corner that they have lacked for years.

6. Arizona Cardinals - DE Terrell Suggs (Arizona State)....The Cardinals were hoping that Suggs fell to their pick and their hopes materialized....The Cardinals wanted Suggs because he will fill one of their needs as a pass rushing end and they wanted to Draft a Player that wanted to play for them and Suggs fits that bill...this is also a Big PR move for the team.

10. Minnesota Vikings - DT Jimmy Kennedy (Penn State)...The Vikings tried desperatly to move out of pick #7 with a pre-draft trade but the teams that were interested in this pick wanted to wait until Draft Day to see if the player that they wanted was still on the board...the Texans stepped in and gave the Vikings a 2nd Round pick (Ravens) this year and the Texans 5th round pick in this Draft to only move down 3 spots...the Vikings gladly accepted and take DT Kennedy one of the two players that they would have taken at pick #7.

4. New York Jets - DT DeWayne Robertson (Kentucky)... The Jets complete a trade and move up in the Draft to take one of the top Prospects in this Draft...they take Robertson who they feel is a carbon copy of Warren Sapp...However if one of the top 2 WR's fall to them at this pick they may be flipping a coin on what to do...the Jets gave up picks #13 and #22 to move up.

9. Carolina Panthers - OT Jordan Gross (Utah)...The Panthers were tempted to move up in the Draft to take QB Byron Leftwich (Marshall) but Coach Fox believes that free Agent signee Jake Delhome will answer the bell and give the Panthers a chance to be competitive this season...with the selection of Gross the Panthers have upgraded their O-line and they will pencil him in as the starter from day one.

14 Seattle Seahawks - DT William Joseph (Miami-Florida)...The Seahawks moved down three picks and acquired two third round picks from the Patriots for the move and are happy that they are still able to take one of the top DT's that they have targeted in the Draft...the Seahawks feel that Joseph has the potential to be the best tackle in this Draft.

3. Houston Texans - WR Andre Johnson (Miami-Florida)...The Texans decide to keep this pick instead of trying to move up to #1 for Rogers or move down a bit and stockpile extra choices....the Texans wanted to land one of the top two Receivers in this Draft to give their anemic Offense a shot in the arm.

12. St. Louis Rams - OLB Boss Bailey (Georgia)...The Rams were originally looking at an Offensive Tackle with this pick but since they acquired Kyle Turley for the Saints they turn their attention to the Defensive side of the ball and fill a big need at the OLB'er position and add some speed to their Defense...the Rams feel that Bailey could play either ILB or OLB for them.

11. New England Patriots DT Jonathan Sullivan (Georgia)...The Patriots send the Seahawks their third round pick in this Draft and a third in 2004 to move up three spots but ahead of the Jets who they think are also very interested in Sullivan...Patriots Coach Bill Belichick stated that there are only two top DT's (Robertson and Sullivan) in this Draft that would fit perfectly in the Patriots scheme and move ahead of the Jets to take Sullivan.

15. Philadelphia Eagles - DE Jerome McDougle (Miami -Florida)...The Eagles move up in the Draft to take DE McDougle who the Eagles feel will be a good replacement for Hugh Douglass who departed in Free Agency...The Eagles parted with one of their two second round picks in this Draft and a Second Round Pick in 2004 to move up this far.

16. Kansas City Chiefs - WR Kelley Washington (Tennessee)...The Chiefs found a Defensive End in Free Agency with the signing of Vonnie Holliday and would like to further upgrade their Defense with this pick...however the top Prospects that they had on their board are gone so they fill a need on the Offense and bring some speed to the Receiver position.

23. New Orleans Saints - CB Sammy Davis (Texas A&M)...The Saints need Corners and were unable to move up in the Draft to take Newman or Trufant so they go with the Corner that they have rated #3 on their board...Davis was very productive at A&M and has good size and speed for the position....the Saints moved down in the Draft and were still able to take the 3rd best CB on their board...the Saints will recieve the Bills third round pick in this years Draft and a 3rd in 2004.

31. Indianapolis Colts - CB Rasheen Mathis (Bethune Cookman)...The Colts feel that Mathis (A Difference Maker who had 27 career ints) as a Safety in College can make the transition to Corner for them...the Colts have needs at the Safety and Corner position so Mathis will fit in somewhere in their secondary...Colts GM Bill Polian likes to Draft small college players and this year is no different...The Colts acquired the Raiders Second Round Pick this season and a third in 2004 for the move.

19. New England Patriots - HB Willis McGahee (Miami-Florida)...The Patriots roll the dice and take McGahee who they feel has a chance to take the field for them somewhere in the second half of the season...even if McGahee sits this season out the Patriots have 14 picks in this Draft to fill their needs and are able to take the chance.

20. Denver Broncos - OG/OT Eric Steinbach (Iowa)... With the way that the board has fell the Broncos wont get one of the top 3 DE's that they wanted so they go with the top rated player on their board and fill a need on their O-Line as well...Steinbach fits the mold of a Broncos Offensive Lineman perfectly.

21. Cleveland Browns - OT Kwame Harris (Stanford)...The Browns wanted to take LB'er Henderson with this pick but since he's off the board the Browns feel that Harris is a much better prospect than any Corner that they were looking at with this pick...Browns O-Line has just gotten better.

18. Buffalo Bills - DE Michael Haynes (Penn State)...The Bills filled a big need at DT with the signing of Sam Adams and make a move up in the Draft to take DE Haynes...Bills GM Tom Donahoe personally viewed Michael Haynes workout and feels that he would be a perfect fit on their D-Line...The Bills send the Saints their third round pick in this Draft and a 3rd round pick in the 2004 Draft for moving up 5 spots.

25. New York Giants - OT Wayne Hunter (Hawaii)...The Giants wanted a Defensive Lineman with this pick but since 9 are already off the board they go with Hunter...the Giants wanted to move up in the Draft to take either DE McDougle or DT Joseph but were unable to complete a trade...The G-Men lost two starters on the right side of their O-Line during the off season and Hunter will be a welcome addition to the team.

26. San Francisco 49'ers - WR Taylor Jacobs (Florida)...The Niners wanted a DT with this pick but wont reach for the next DT on their board ..so they fill a need on their Offense with the selection of Jacobs ....The Niners think that Jacobs is a perfect fit to keep teams from doubling Terrell Owens.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers - Troy Polamalu SS (USC)...The Steelers finally decide on Polamalu after considering QB Simms and HB Johnson with this pick...by not taking a QB here the Steelers feel they are playing for this year and hope Polamalu will improve their Secondary and lead them to the AFC Championship game.

28. Tennessee Titans - C Jeff Faine (Notre Dame)...The Titans staff loves Faine and believes he will be able to start for them from Day One....this pick also fills a Big need for the team...Cornerback and Wide Receiver are also needs but there is depth in the Draft at both positions and Faine is the only sure fire starter at the Center Position in this Draft.

29. Green Bay Packers - QB Chris Simms (Texas)...The Packers almost completed a trade with the Browns to move ahead of f the Bears to take Kyle Boller but it fell through at the last minute...despite the rumors that the Pack would take QB Grossman...it's Chris Simms that they prefer...they feel the young lefty has a great upside and will learn the ropes from Brett Favre.

30. San Diego Chargers - DT Ty Warren (Texas A&M)...The Chargers take the best player available on their board with this pick but fill a need on their D-Line as well...A.J. Smith who is running the Draft for the late John Butler wanted to take a CB or a DT in the first round with their pick at #15 but the board just didn't fall their way so he traded down with the Eagles and aquired their second round pick this year and their First Round pick in 2004...the Chargers were still able to take one of the DT's that they had rated as first round material.

32. Oakland Raiders - DT Kenny Peterson (Ohio State)...The Raiders filled a need at the DE position with their earlier pick and fill another need at DT with this one ...the Raiders like Peterson and feel that he could play either DE or Dt for them...the Raiders D-Line was raided during Free Agency and Al Davis has added two young linemen in this Draft.

The NFL Draft will be held this Saturday and I wanted to take this moment to reflect on a person that truely Lived for and Loved the Draft...with the passing of Chargers GM John Butler just before the Draft the NFL truely lost a terrific Football mind and one helluva person...I can say I had the honor of meeting John in person and spoke with him several times...to the casual Draft fan that didn't know John I can tell you John was a first class person who loved the Draft, the game and his family...The Draft will go on this Saturday as usual...but it just wont be the same without John Butler being involved.

Draft Rumors inside the "inner circle"of the NFL.

The following are some of the rumors that are circulating around the "inner circles" of the league that haven't made it to the media yet.....Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells would like to Draft QB Chris Simms with the 'Boys second round pick...the Minnesota Vikings would love to strike a deal and move down in the Draft if CB Terence Newman is off the board when the Vikings pick at #7.....the Ravens are thinking about moving up in the Draft ahead of Jacksonville and Carolina to take QB Byron Leftwich...a Vikings - Ravens Draft day deal is very possible...The Patriots want to move up in the Draft to take DT DeWayne Robertson but if that doesn't happen look for them to take DT Jonathan Sullivan....The New York Giants Love QB Chris Simms and are thinking about taking him with their first pick but will more than likely pass on Simms...ditto for the Green Bay Packers but the Packersare the team that will take Simms If the Cowboys and Bill Parcells dont somehow beat them to it...QB Rex Grossman will be a second round pick...CB/S Rashean Mathis is on the Radar screen of at least three First Round teams that pick later than #19 in the Draft....despite the fact that the Bengals have already signed QB Carson Palmer look for the Bengals to take at least 10 minutes with their first pick to allow ESPN and Chris Berman to do their usual introductions at the beginning of their telecast....the Swami strikes again!