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CNNSI.com's 2001 NFL Mock Draft
Posted: Wednesday April 11, 2001 11:48 PM
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Though he may not be headed to Seattle at No. 7, former Miami linebacker Dan Morgan still projects to be a top-15 pick. Scott Halleran/Allsport |
By Jon A. Dolezar, CNNSI.com
With less than two weeks until the draft, the opportunities for a player to help his stock are diminishing rapidly.
Draft visits must be completed one week before Draft Day, so teams are hurrying to bring prospective picks for last-minute trips. Unless a player misses his flight or gets arrested in the next week, odds are his stock has settled into his general draft position.
Another factor that can affect the stock of players coming out of college is what a team does in free agency.
The activity on the free-agent market changes a team's needs drastically. In early March, the Seahawks solidified their defensive line by inking John Randle and Chad Eaton, but Seattle still had work to do on its linebacking corps and secondary. When the calendar flipped to April, the Seahawks continued to revamp their defense by signing Levon Kirkland, Marcus Robertson and Jeremy Staat.
Prior to signing Kirkland, the Seahawks might have used one of their two first-round picks to select a linebacker. But with Kirkland signed for three seasons, the Seahawks aren't as likely to draft a linebacker in the first round. Dan Morgan would've been a possibility with the seventh overall pick, but no other teams in the top 10 have a glaring need for linebacking and are likely to take him. Odds are that Morgan will be gone before the Seahawks' second first-round pick at 17, so Seattle may look to another linebacker or wait until the second round. The Seahawks still love Kendrell Bell of Georgia, and he may be a possibility for them at No. 17 or No. 40.
The Denver Broncos went into the offseason needing help on the defensive line, but after adding Leon Lett, Chester McGlockton and Keith Washington, the Broncos probably won't spend an early pick on a defensive lineman.
The Carolina Panthers had a glaring need on the offensive line, but with Todd Steussie, Jeff Mitchell and Kevin Donnalley on board, George Seifert can look at other team needs like running back, linebacker and quarterback.
Here is our updated Mock Draft. Feel free to compare it to our Mock Draft from March, as well as user Reactions. We will have one final Mock Draft next Thursday, April 19, two days before the draft, so please check back then for our final say before Commissioner Tagliabue starts the clock on the Chargers' 15 minutes.
Agree? Disagree? Send us your reaction to our updated Mock Draft, and the best responses will be posted in the next week.
| CNNSI.com's 2001 NFL Mock Draft |
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| Pos. | Team |
Analysis |
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| 1 |  | San Diego Chargers 1-15
* Michael Vick QB Virginia Tech | Chargers now have Flutie to tutor Vick. |
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| 2 |  | Arizona Cardinals 3-13
* Justin Smith DE Missouri | Smith is the likely pick if Cards don't trade down. |
| 3 |  | Cleveland Browns 3-13
* David Terrell WR Michigan | Choosing Terrell would put a smile on Couch's face. |
| 4 |  | Cincinnati Bengals 4-12
Leonard Davis OT Texas | Would give Bengals massive bookend offensive tackles. |
| 5 |  | Atlanta Falcons 4-12
* Gerard Warren DT Florida | Falcons would be thrilled with either Warren or Smith. |
| 6 |  | New England Patriots 5-11
Deuce McAllister RB Ole Miss | More versatile than Tomlinson; better between the tackles. |
| 7 |  | (1) Seattle Seahawks 6-10
* Koren Robinson WR N.C. State | Signings allow 'Hawks to concentrate on offense. |
| 8 |  | Chicago Bears 5-11
LaDainian Tomlinson RB TCU | Bears aren't thrilled with Allen's lack of explosiveness. |
| 9 |  | San Francisco 49ers 6-10
Andre Carter DE California | 49ers badly need an upgraded pass rush. |
| 10 |  | (2) Green Bay Packers 9-7
Richard Seymour DT Georgia | Packers think Seymour can plug holes, rush passer. |
| 11 |  | Carolina Panthers 7-9
Dan Morgan LB Miami (Fla.) | Panthers can use a speedy sideline-to-sideline linebacker. |
| 12 |  | Kansas City Chiefs 7-9
Drew Brees QB Purdue | Chiefs need young talent even if Beuerlein signs. |
| 13 |  | Jacksonville Jaguars 7-9
* Kenyatta Walker OT Florida | Would step into Searcy's old spot in the starting lineup. |
| 14 |  | Buffalo Bills 8-8
Damione Lewis DT Miami (Fla.) | Bills need a replacement for departed NT Washington. |
| 15 |  | Washington Redskins 8-8
Rod Gardner WR Clemson | Tall, athletic target to reel in George's bullet passes. |
| 16 |  | Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7
Marcus Stroud DT Georgia | Steelers need a DT to play DE in their 3-4 scheme. |
| 17 | | (3) Seattle Seahawks 6-10
* Nate Clements CB Ohio State | Would team with fellow speedy Buckeye Springs. |
| 18 |  | Detroit Lions 9-7
* Todd Heap TE Arizona State | Mornhinweg needs an athletic TE in his West Coast offense. |
| 19 |  | New York Jets 9-7
* Freddie Mitchell WR UCLA | Jets could use Mitchell to stretch the field for Hatchette. |
| 20 |  | St. Louis Rams 10-6
Jamal Reynolds DE Florida State | Rams' defensive revival needs a pass-rushing machine. |
| 21 |  | Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-6
Jeff Backus OT Michigan | Bucs need depth on line even with Wunsch back. |
| 22 |  | Indianapolis Colts 10-6
Fred Smoot CB Mississippi State | Light corner needs to talk less, eat more. |
| 23 |  | New Orleans Saints 10-6
Ken Lucas CB Ole Miss | Rebel goes one spot behind his hated rival Bulldog. |
| 24 |  | Denver Broncos 11-5
Santana Moss WR Miami (Fla.) | Broncos need a weapon as their third wideout. |
| 25 |  | Philadelphia Eagles 11-5
Chris Chambers WR Wisconsin | Workout wonder would be welcome sight for McNabb. |
| 26 |  | Miami Dolphins 11-5
Chad Johnson WR Oregon State | Dolphins need OL help, but wouldn't pass on Johnson. |
| 27 |  | Minnesota Vikings 11-5
* Michael Bennett RB Wisconsin | Yet another character project for Green to work on. |
| 28 |  | Oakland Raiders 12-4
Adam Archuleta S/LB Arizona State | Tough-guy strong safety just looks like a Raider. |
| 29 | | (4) St. Louis Rams 10-6
Will Allen CB Syracuse | Rams go defense again to get athletic corner. |
| 30 |  | New York Giants 12-4
* Willie Middlebrooks CB Minnesota | Tall, speedy corner to play behind Sehorn. |
| 31 |  | Baltimore Ravens 12-4
* Dominic Raiola C Nebraska | Champs would love to get Husker to replace Mitchell. |
* -- Underclassman
(1) -- From Dallas in Joey Galloway trade
(2) -- From Seattle in Matt Hasselbeck trade
(3) -- From Green Bay in Matt Hasselbeck trade
(4) -- From Tennessee in Kevin Carter trade |
Mock Draft conducted by NFL producers B. Duane Cross and Jon A. Dolezar, college sports producers Stewart Mandel and Marc Lancaster, senior producer Ryan Hunt, Statitudes producer Jacob Luft and fantasy sports producer James Quintong.
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