Ups, downs of the first round

Video Click the image to launch the clip Texans QB David Carr expects a lot from himself during his rookie season. Start Joey Harrington had no idea that the Lions would draft him. DE Julius Peppers thinks the Panthers will fully utilize his talents. Bills OL Mike Williams recounts the moments before his selection. Chargers CB Quentin Jammer was surprised the Lions passed him over. Video Plus Visit Video Plus for all the latest video and audio.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Before they played a game, the Houston Texans filled their biggest need, grabbing a future quarterback in David Carr. Detroit did the same, although taking Joey Harrington third overall might have been a bit high.

Cincinnati, which often makes strange draft selections -- no surprise the Bengals are the NFL's biggest losers of the past decade -- reached for offensive tackle Levi Jones at No. 10 overall. One spot later, Indianapolis, desperate for a pass rusher, took Syracuse sacks specialist Dwight Freeney, who wasn't expected to go in the first round at all.

So it goes in the league's annual grab bag of college talent. Every choice really is a gamble, some more than others.

Job well done

Not only did the Texans get the top prospect at the game's glamour position, but they already had a contract agreement, meaning Carr can begin his studies Monday.

"As many things as they want me to do I'll do," Carr said. "I want it to be second-nature when I get on the field."

Cleveland, desperate for a running back, got the highest-rated runner in Boston College's William Green. While Green had some off-field problems and was suspended for one game last season, he brings speed and good receiving skills to help Tim Couch.

"We really felt that he could add a big dimension to our offense," head coach Butch Davis said.

The Giants' weakest link for years has been a receiving tight end. Miami's Jeremy Shockey fills that void nicely, although New York had to trade a fourth-round pick to the Titans to secure him.

"My feeling was that was the player we wanted, I am not going to worry about a fourth-round draft choice or how it comes out on the scoreboard, or we gave too much," general manager Ernie Accorsi said. "We wanted Jeremy Shockey."

Denver never adequately replaced Ed McCaffrey after he broke his leg in the 2001 opener. In taking Hawaii's Ashley Lelie, the Broncos got a big (6-1, 199) deep threat with good hands and a knack for catching the ball in traffic. He's a faster, younger version of -- yes -- McCaffrey.

"It's hard to find a guy at that size with that speed and that type of smarts who has caught the ball as consistently as he has," head coach Mike Shanahan said. "He's a top character guy who comes from a military background."

What were they thinking?

The Bengals have a hole at left tackle, but Jones was valued in the 15 to 25 area of the first round. Rather than trading down, getting added picks and likely still getting the Arizona State tackle, Cincinnati made a big reach.

"I knew it was going to be anywhere from 10th to possibly 27th, but I didn't think at all it would be 10th," Jones said. "I was real surprised."

Indianapolis also gambled, taking the smallish but mercurial Freeney to bolster the defensive line. New coach Tony Dungy certainly has a strong track record with the position.

"You always need a pass rusher," Colts GM Bill Polian said. "When you have 30 sacks in two years, you got to be doing something right."

Green Bay filled a need with Florida State wideout Javon Walker, a former minor league baseball player and generally not regarded as a first-rounder. Even more stunning, the Packers traded up eight spots for him and gave up a second-rounder to Seattle and former head coach Mike Holmgren.

Atlanta spent $28.5 million over six years to sign free agent RB Warrick Dunn. Yet the Falcons, fearing Jamal Anderson won't make it back from a second major knee surgery and not enamored of Maurice Smith, who also had knee surgery, took Michigan State's powerful T.J. Duckett.

"That's a concern," Atlanta head coach Dan Reeves said. "We didn't go into the first round saying we wanted to take a running back, but when he was there we had to take him."

But Atlanta had far more pressing needs at receiver -- the next two players chosen were wideouts -- safety and guard.

Despite having an All-Pro defensive end in John Abraham, the Jets spent the No. 22 pick on another end, Bryan Thomas of UAB. Barely mentioned as a possible first-rounder, Thomas didn't fill a hole -- the Jets are weak at defensive tackle, not end, and could use a defensive back, too.

"Thirty-five sacks," head coach Herman Edwards said. "You don't pass a guy like that up. He's an explosive guy. He has a lot of toughness. You have to use guys' talent. He has a special talent of getting to the passer."

 

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