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Draft dreaming

What if teams got a down-and-over on NFL Draft?

Posted: Friday November 19, 2004 4:48PM; Updated: Friday November 19, 2004 6:21PM
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CLICK HERE TO GO TO DON BANKS' REVISED DRAFT PART I

Don Bank's Revised Draft Part II
Rank Team
17 Denver Broncos
D.J. WILLIAMS, LB, Miami
Original pick: D.J. Williams
Surprised you with the status quo, didn't we? Williams has been superb for the Broncos, and many believe he's headed for the defensive rookie of the year honor. We could have bumped him up to the No. 12 spot to the Jets, and given Denver Dansby, but you've got to shake things up once a while to keep those Internet readers on their toes. At least that's what my editors keep yapping about.
18 New Orleans Saints
TOMMIE HARRIS, DT, Oklahoma
Original pick: Will Smith
Harris tumbles four spots, from Chicago's No. 14 slot, and he really doesn't deserve to. His 3½ sacks lead all rookie defensive tackles and he's been a nice cog in the resurgent Bears defense. But the Saints are so disappointed with last year's No. 1, defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, that we're giving them Harris and hoping to salve the wound.
19 Miami Dolphins
KEVIN JONES, RB, Virginia Tech
Original pick: Vernon Carey
Now, let's see. What position did the Dolphins lose some depth at after the draft and before the season started? Seems to me that somebody retired, but I can't place the name at the moment. Ricky something, I think. Jones will help just a tad more than guard Vernon Carey, whose rookie contribution has been non-existent.
20 Minnesota Vikings
CHRIS GAMBLE, CB, Ohio State
Original pick: Kenechi Udeze
The Vikings lost nickel back Ken Irvin in pregame warmups on opening day, and when has Minnesota not needed more help in the secondary? Gamble is going to be a player in this league for a long time, and despite Carolina's awful, injury-plagued season, he has been a bright spot amid the gloom.
21 New England Patriots
GIBRIL WILSON, S, Tennessee
Original pick: Vince Wilfork
With all their injuries in the secondary, the Patriots could really use this play-making rookie. Don't get hung up on him playing strong safety, Rodney Harrison's position. In New England, every part is interchangeable. A fifth-round pick of the Giants, Wilson has all but wiped veteran safety Shaun Williams off the depth chart. He has three sacks, three picks and a team-leading 56 tackles.
22 Buffalo Bills
Craig Krenzel, QB, Ohio State
Original pick: J.P. Losman
You?re scoffing, right? Krenzel, a fifth-round pick of the Bears, in the first round? Well, look here. He?s 3-0 as a starter in Chicago, and while his numbers aren?t much to brag about, he?s not losing games. That kind of quarterbacking would play pretty well in Buffalo these days, where the defense is superb and Drew Bledsoe needs to be put out of his misery. J.P. Losman got himself hurt this preseason. Otherwise the Bills' reality pick might have fit nicely here.
23 Seattle Seahawks
LEE EVANS, WR, Wisconsin
Original pick: Marcus Tubbs
Since that Jerry Rice midseason acquisition hasn't exactly solved all their receiving problems, we're going with Evans to the Seahawks. That's a fall of 10 spots for Evans, who was taken 13th by Buffalo, a little high based on his production compared to other rookie receivers. With Koren Robinson facing a four-game suspension, Evans plays right away in Seattle.
24 St. Louis Rams
CHRIS SNEE, G, Boston College
Original pick: Steven Jackson
The Rams offensive line needs help. No Kyle Turley. Grant Williams is hurt. And so is Chris Dishman. Snee has been solid enough, and he can slide right into the lineup at left guard, in place of Dishman. Plus, this gets Snee out of the potentially sticky situation of playing for Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who is also the grandfather of the baby he and Coughlin's daughter had together.
25 Green Bay Packers
RICARDO COCLOUGH, CB, Tusculum (Tenn.)
Original pick: Ahmad Carroll
The pickings are slim at cornerback, but with veteran Willie Williams taking over for injured starter Chad Scott in Pittsburgh, Colclough, the Steelers' second-round pick, has fared pretty well in nickel-back duty. All we know is this: If the Packers could make their Ahmad Carroll selection over again, they probably wouldn't.
26 Cincinnati Bengals
MEWELDE MOORE, RB, Tulane
Original pick: Chris Perry
Chris Perry has amassed all of 34 yards of offense for the Bengals, and we're sure that's not what they were thinking when they took the Michigan standout and declared him their third-down back. Moore, a steal by Minnesota in the fourth round, fits the bill much better as a complement to starter Rudi Johnson, who is eligible for free agency in the spring.
27 Houston Texans
DeANGELO HALL, CB, Virginia Tech
Original pick: Jason Babin
Since we took Dunta Robinson from the Texans earlier in the first round, we feel compelled to give them the best available cornerback with their second pick. Hall was hurt for most of the season's first half in Atlanta, but he's back now and the Texans could use his superb coverage skills.
28 Carolina Panthers
DARIUS WATTS, WR, Marshall
Original pick: Chris Gamble
With no Keary Colbert around (we gave him to Buffalo at No. 13), the Panthers turn to Watts, who opened eyes during the preseason and has put together a solid first year in Denver, catching 22 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown. He's no Steve Smith, but who is?
29 Atlanta Falcons
TONY HARGROVE, DE, Georgia Tech
Original pick: Michael Jenkins
The Falcons missed out on this Georgia Tech product in the real draft, but we're not letting him slip to the third round this time. The Rams took him in April, believing his speed-rushing skills were unrefined, yet rare. For a Falcons defense already exceeding expectations, he's just another weapon for the arsenal.
30 Detroit Lions
REGGIE WILLIAMS, WR, Washington
Original pick: Kevin Jones
He's not the receiver named R. Williams that the Lions really want, but Roy Williams is long gone to No. 2 Oakland in our do-over draft. Detroit doesn't need any more receivers you say? With Charles Rogers, Az-Zahir Hakim and Tai Streets all hurt, sure they do.
31 San Francisco 49ers
J.P. LOSMAN, QB, Tulane
Original pick: Rashaun Woods
The 49ers have gone through some quarterbacks the past couple of years, so we'll toss them Losman and hope he has a little Joe Montana magic lurking in him. Tim Rattay and Ken Dorsey seem to be taking turns getting hurt, and Losman, picked No. 22 by Buffalo, already has his major injury out of the way this season. Makes sense to me.
32 New England Patriots
B.J. Sams, RB-KR, McNeese State
Original pick: Benjamin Watson
We know he didn't grade out at first-round talent. Heck, he didn't grade out at seventh-round talent, because the Ravens signed him as an undrafted free agent. But Sams would give the Patriots a superb weapon on special teams, and New England is just rich enough in roster depth to get away with such a luxury pick. Sams has two punt returns touchdowns for Baltimore, and one as a reserve running back.

Don Banks covers pro football for SI.com.

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