| SI.com's 2004 Mock Draft -- Take 1 |
|---|
| Pick |
Team |
Pos. |
Player |
College |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Class |
|
1
|
 |
QB
|
Eli Manning
|
Ole Miss
|
6'4"
|
215
|
Sr.
|
|
Locals will chalk it up to just another Brees blowing in (and out), but the Chargers cannot pass on a bona fide franchise player.
|
|
2
|
 |
WR
|
Larry Fitzgerald
|
Pittsburgh
|
6'3"
|
210 |
Soph.
|
|
Everyone is expecting Norv Turner to bring back the vertical passing game, and who better
to revive the downfield attack than Fitz?
|
|
3
|
 |
QB
|
Ben Roethlisberger
|
Miami (Ohio)
|
6'5"
|
240 |
Jr.
|
|
Despite reports to the contrary, head coach Dennis Green won't fumble this pick; Big Ben is the face of the Cards for the next decade.
|
|
4
|
 |
T
|
Robert Gallery
|
Iowa
|
6'7 1/2"
|
320 |
Sr.
|
|
If he's not the pick here, Giants fans should boycott en masse -- no matter if Gallery's contract will be more than the other O-linemen combined.
|
|
5
|
 |
DE
|
Kenechi Udeze
|
USC
|
6'3"
|
270 |
Soph.
|
|
With the all-time sack record in the bag, Skins can bid adieu to Bruce Smith. Udeze is the first step in improving an aging defense.
|
|
6
|
 |
S
|
Sean Taylor
|
Miami (Fla.)
|
6'3"
|
225 |
Jr.
|
|
Other than the Giants' glaring need at O-line, perhaps no other team needs a position player quite like the Lions need a big-time safety.
|
|
7
|
 |
TE
|
Kellen Winslow Jr.
|
Miami (Fla.)
|
6'5"
|
250 |
Jr.
|
|
Remember when Butch Davis passed on Clinton Portis? Davis won't again make the mistake of passing on another former Hurricane.
|
|
8
|
 |
DT
|
Tommie Harris
|
Oklahoma
|
6'3"
|
288 |
Jr.
|
|
Another team with O-line needs, but there isn't one worthy at this spot. Hence, the Falcons fill a dire need on the other side of the ball.
|
|
9
|
 |
WR
|
Roy Williams
|
Texas
|
6'4"
|
210 |
Sr.
|
|
A major upgrade over Jimmy Redmond, Matthew Hatchette, Jimmy Smith, Kevin Johnson, Jermaine Lewis, Cortez Hankton and Troy Edwards.
|
|
10
|
 |
CB
|
Chris Gamble
|
Ohio State
|
6'2"
|
180 |
Jr.
|
|
A very athletic playmaker, he can help on defense (a standout CB) and special teams (dangerous in the return game) -- something the Texans can use.
|
|
11
|
 |
RB
|
Steven Jackson
|
Oregon State
|
6'3"
|
233 |
Jr.
|
|
Jerome Bettis has aged before our eyes, and Amos Zereoue proved not to be a worthy successor to The Bus. Jackson will be a true go-to back.
|
|
12
|
 |
WR
|
Michael Clayton
|
LSU
|
6'4"
|
200 |
Jr.
|
|
With Wayne Crebet's concussion problems, matching up Clayton with Santana Moss will give the J-E-T-S an enviable 1-2 punch for many years.
|
|
13
|
 |
WR
|
Reggie Williams
|
Washington
|
6'4"
|
220 |
Jr.
|
|
Once upon a time, the Bills were so high on Josh Reed that Buffalo traded Peerless Price. One year later, Williams' arrival moves Reed back to a No. 3.
|
|
14
|
 |
RB
|
Kevin Jones
|
Virginia Tech
|
6'0"
|
225 |
Jr.
|
|
It's no secret that Da Bears' GM, Jerry Angelo, would like more speed in the backfield; Jones would be that spark -- making the A-Train trade bait.
|
|
15
|
 |
T
|
Shawn Andrews
|
Arkansas
|
6'5"
|
330 |
Jr.
|
|
The Bucs return to Round 1 for the first time since 2001 (thanks, Jon Gruden), and need to immediately address their sieve-like O-line.
|
|
16
|
 |
DT
|
Vince Wilfork
|
Miami (Fla.)
|
6'2"
|
350 |
Jr.
|
|
Bryant Young is 32 and fellow incumbent Travis Kirschke is a free agent (and nothing special to begin with). Wilfork is an injection of much-needed youth.
|
|
17
|
 |
CB
|
Will Poole
|
USC
|
6'0"
|
190 |
Sr.
|
|
Considered a classic underachiever by some scouts, Poole could be molded into a very special player -- and who better to learn from than Marvin Lewis?
|
|
18
|
 |
CB
|
Dunta Robinson
|
South Carolina
|
5'11"
|
180 |
Sr.
|
|
Saints' D-backfield could use some fresh legs; Ashley Ambrose, Dale Carter and Fred Thomas aren't getting any younger. And Robinson has speed to burn.
|
|
19
|
 |
DE
|
Will Smith
|
Ohio State
|
6'4"
|
263 |
Sr.
|
|
Minny had 37 sacks last season, so addressing the pass rush with a sackmeister is a no-brainer. However, he will not be as effective against the run.
|
|
20
|
 |
QB
|
Philip Rivers
|
N.C. State
|
6'5"
|
236 |
Sr.
|
|
If the Fins come up short in the Mark Brunell sweepstakes, it won't necessarily be a bad thing -- especially if they land Rivers.
|
|
21
|
 |
LB
|
D.J. Williams
|
Miami (Fla.)
|
6'2"
|
245 |
Sr.
|
|
Combine his good size, speed and nose for the football with Romeo Crennel's defensive scheme ... just another weapon for the champs.
|
|
22
|
 |
DT
|
Randy Starks
|
Maryland
|
6'4"
|
312 |
Jr.
|
|
Overlooked by some in favor of Florida State's Darnell Dockett or even LSU's Chad Lavalais, Starks may be the defensive gem of the '04 draft.
|
|
23
|
 |
DE
|
Antwan Odom
|
Alabama
|
6'5"
|
277 |
Jr.
|
|
Another team that could use an injection of young blood, Odom gets an oh-so-slight nod over Florida's Bobby McCray in youth and size.
|
|
24
|
 |
WR
|
Rashaun Woods
|
Oklahoma State
|
6'2"
|
190 |
Sr.
|
|
With Ed McCaffery and Rod Smith getting long in the tooth, the prospect of pairing Woods with Ashley Lelie is too good to pass up.
|
|
25
|
 |
DE
|
Marquise Hill
|
LSU
|
6'7"
|
294 |
Jr.
|
|
Injury-prone Joe Johnson has underwhelmed Cheeseheads, and Hill could be used as a pass rusher opposite KGB as well as in the D-line rotation.
|
|
26
|
 |
TE
|
Ben Troupe
|
Florida
|
6'4"
|
262 |
Sr.
|
|
Athletic and brawny, Troupe has the potential to be an All-Pro early in his career. And he'll be a weapon to be reckoned with inside Mad Mike's scheme.
|
|
27
|
 |
C
|
Jake Grove
|
Virginia Tech
|
6'3'
|
300 |
Sr.
|
|
Remember, this is the team that toyed with the idea of drafting Jeff Faine last year. Grove is clearly the best line anchor in the draft.
|
|
28
|
 |
LB
|
Jonathan Vilma
|
Miami (Fla.)
|
6'2"
|
225 |
Sr.
|
|
Some may question his lack of height in the middle, but Vilma's frame can be filled out to enable him to be a very effective 'backer.
|
|
29
|
 |
LB
|
Karlos Dansby
|
Auburn
|
6'5'
|
235 |
Sr.
|
|
Tony Dungy needs a versatile, athletic LB -- and Dansby is the one. His size would suit playing inside, and his speed allows him to wreak havoc outside.
|
|
30
|
 |
LB
|
Dontarrious Thomas
|
Auburn
|
6'4'
|
238 |
Sr.
|
|
The Chiefs' defensive shortcomings were on display in their playoff loss, so any addition would be an upgrade. Thomas, however, is a major plus.
|
|
31
|
 |
CB
|
Derrick Strait
|
Oklahoma
|
5'11"
|
194 |
Sr.
|
|
Pairing Strait with Ricky Manning Jr. would be a boon for the NFC champs, and he'll be a much better player than either Reggie Howard or Terry Cousin.
|
|
32
|
|
RB
|
Chris Perry
|
Michigan
|
6'1'
|
220 |
Sr.
|
|
The release of Antowain Smith was a clear signal that the champs will need a No. 1 back. Perry gets the nod over Florida State's Greg Jones.
|
