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62:
Baltimore Ravens
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Gary Baxter
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CB
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Baylor Bears
|
| Baltimore made this selection after losing Kim Herring to St. Louis in free agency. Veteran free safety Rod Woodson is still unsigned, but is expected to re-sign with the Ravens. Anthony Poindexter was to be the safety of the future but has yet to recover from his knee injury. There will be room for both Baxter and Poindexter on this team. This is a good value at this spot.
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61:
Detroit Lions
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Shaun Rogers
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DT
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Texas Longhorns
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| First-round talent with medical issues that dropped him to this point. He has a label of a bit of an underachiever. Nonetheless, he's worth this pick at 61. Some teams were not allowed to take him for medical reasons. It reminds me of a story I knew at the Jets where we weren't allowed to take Ronnie Lott out of college because of medical reasons.
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60:
Tennessee Titans
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Andre Dyson
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CB
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Utah Runnin' Utes
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| I think he's a good cover corner and has played to the level of some of the first-round players. In Tennessee's aggressive defense, he is going to be left alone with no safety help, so man coverage skills are crucial. He is the best available player at this time. He now gets to team up with his brother Kevin.
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59:
Oakland Raiders
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Marques Tuiasosopo
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QB
|
Washington Huskies
|
| An athletic-type guy in a situation where the Raiders need to groom a replacement for Rich Gannon in time. The youngster needs time to develop and Gannon isn't ready to call it quits. It's a surprise pick, but it's a West Coast guy staying home.
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58:
Buffalo Bills
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Travis Henry
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HB
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Tennessee Volunteers
|
| Felt he deserved to go earlier than this. The all-time leading rusher at Tennessee. He has demonstrated the ability to cut back, which is a very important trait in an NFL back. He also has excellent vision. Travis is different than the big backs on the Buffalo team and more elusive than Jonathan Linton or Antowain Smith. His now teams up with former teammate Shawn Bryson. This selection could mark the end of Smith's time in a Buffalo uniform.
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57:
Minnesota Vikings
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Willie Howard
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DT
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Stanford Cardinal
|
| A four-year player at Stanford with great production, excellent hustle and well-documented leadership qualities. He's a kind of guy who can stay in the NFL for years. He's smart enough to understand difficult schemes, quick enough to penetrate and considered a disruptive force inside. He's a great value late in the second round. The Vikings' defense needs help and Howard will be in a rotation with second-year players Chris Hovan and Fred Robbins.
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56:
Dallas Cowboys
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Tony Dixon
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S
|
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
| Strong safety is a never a priority pick at this point. Another example of taking guys before you have to. He's a tall, sturdy player with a good wingspan.
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55:
Philadelphia Eagles
|
Quinton Caver
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OLB
|
Arkansas Razorbacks
|
| An excellent pick at this position in the draft and a need pick for the Eagles, at least for a backup this year with the loss of James Darling to the Jets. Potentially a starter if Jeremiah Trotter can't be re-signed. He should be an outstanding special teams guy immediately and in the Eagles' defensive scheme, they will find ways to use his talents and speed. Obviously the best player on the board at the time since they have other needs to be met.
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54:
Arizona Cardinals
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Michael Stone
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CB
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Memphis Tigers
|
| A reach at this position. More of a fourth-round guy. An improving player but still raw at this time.
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53:
Dallas Cowboys
|
Quincy Carter
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QB
|
Georgia Bulldogs
|
| Dallas identified earlier this week that it was interested in this guy. No one I know had him ranked as a second-round pick. He has had controversy off the field. His football intelligence has been questioned and most people thought he needed to go back to school. This kind of pick by Jerry Jones cries out for the need for a football man to run the Cowboys.
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52:
Miami Dolphins
|
Chris Chambers
|
WR
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Wisconsin Badgers
|
| An athletic phenom. Vertical leap of 45 inches and has run under 4.5 and is explosive. He has had inconsistent hands, which is why he dropped down to the second round but he has the measurables and is worthy of this spot. At this point in the draft, he has to be considered a bargain. Chambers is an interesting pick. They recently signed Dedric Ward and James McKnight and now add another receiver to this group. He had to be the highest-ranked player left on their board at this time.
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51:
Denver Broncos
|
Paul Toviessi
|
DE
|
Marshall Thundering Herd
|
| Tall but underdeveloped at this time. People that worked him out said he was stiff and too much of a project to go this early, but teams are intrigued by the height (6-6). He has the measurables, he just did not do well enough in his position drills, but apparently Denver saw something others haven't. At this point in the draft, he has to be considered a reach.
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50:
Detroit Lions
|
Dominic Raiola
|
C
|
Nebraska Cornhuskers
|
| Matt Millen is going to build this team with guys with their hands on the ground. He is great center who has balance, toughness, quickness and is a long-term starter. They lost Jeff Hartings and Mike Compton and had to replace them. Raiola had a first-round grade from everyone I spoke to and typically people won't take centers even if they're great players. The Lions get a great value at this pick. With two big tackles, Aaron Gibson and Stockar McDougal, guard Brenden Stai signed from Jacksonville, and these two draft picks, Detroit will have a very good offensive line for years to come.
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49:
New York Jets
|
LaMont Jordan
|
HB
|
Maryland Terrapins
|
| A very productive player who rushed for more than 4,000 yards and comes in as Curtis Martin's backup. Great lower body strength. There were some issues about Lamont that knocked him into the middle of the second round. Often running backs are drafted and expected to play right away, that's not the case with Lamont Jordan. At 234 pounds, Lamont has run a 4.33 and has to be the best player on Terry Bradway's board at this point.
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48:
New England Patriots
|
Matt Light
|
OT
|
Purdue Boilermakers
|
| This was a must pick for the Patriots, who don't have a left tackle. Has been in a pro passing attack at Purdue and should come in and play pretty quickly. His athletic ability is apparent from the former tight end. He has gone up the draft board the past month to become a good prospect at this point.
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47:
San Francisco 49ers
|
Jamie Winborn
|
ILB
|
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
| Undersized middle linebacker who will play will linebacker in 4-3 defense. He must line up behind the tackle to prevent linemen from getting on him, which will be a problem. He is a good run-down player with enough ability to cover a running back. Personally, I thought he was more of a third-round pick.
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46:
Buffalo Bills
|
Aaron Schobel
|
DE
|
TCU Horned Frogs
|
| As they are converting from a 3-4 to a 4-3, they need players like this. He has great intensity, pass rush skills as indicated by his 30-plus sacks. He would've received more notoriety if he wasn't on a team with LaDainian Tomlinson. He plays with an excellent pad level and is great on pursuit. And when he fills out to the 275 range, he could produce Robert Porcher numbers.
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|
45:
Washington Redskins
|
Fred Smoot
|
CB
|
Mississippi St. Bulldogs
|
| Fred hurt himself with an off-field incident. He is a true cover corner who plays the pass as anyone in the draft. He takes a lot of time off in the running game and at 175 pounds, maybe he has to. His strength is pathetic with one rep on the bench at 225. Most high school football players can beat that. But he now joins his idol Deion Sanders, but he also joins Marty Schottenheimer, who won't take that. He may have to close down his own Web site until he proves to Schottenheimer he can do the job. As a cover corner, he gets to play on all the dime and nickel packages and since those situations are 75 percent pass, we should see his best side early.
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44:
Carolina Panthers
|
Kris Jenkins
|
DT
|
Maryland Terrapins
|
| Has been rising for a month off his personal workout and has moved from the fourth round to the middle of the second round. He is going to have a better rookie year than some people picked earlier than him. And in two or three years could be the best of the group. Right now, patience is required because he's not fully developed.
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43:
Jacksonville Jaguars
|
Maurice Williams
|
OT
|
Michigan Wolverines
|
| There was a feeling among line coaches that he has the most potential of the three Michigan linemen drafted early today. Some describe him as the only true left tackle candidate at Michigan. He's athletic and with Tony Boselli on the left side, he will be an outstanding right tackle. If Boselli is to get hurt, like he has done in the past, this guy can move over to the left side.
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42:
St. Louis Rams
|
Tommy Polley
|
OLB
|
Florida St. Seminoles
|
| Has overcome some medical issues to be drafted in the second round. A good, physical player and as the Rams continue to rebuild their defense, he's got a reputation as a guy who can run and is smart.
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|
41:
Green Bay Packers
|
Robert Ferguson
|
WR
|
Texas A&M Aggies
|
| He was ranked as a first-round selection and fell to the second round but by his fault, but by great efforts from other athletes in this draft. Green Bay likes to throw the short pass and let them run with it. It's easy to understand now why Green Bay stayed at 10 and took Reynolds. They knew the depth at receiver would give them a player who would be a first-round pick in a different year.
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40:
Seattle Seahawks
|
Ken Lucas
|
CB
|
Ole Miss Rebels
|
| Is a very interesting prospect. He's not ready to be considered a top corner in this draft and is taken at the right point in the draft, but secondary coaches told me he will be the next James Hasty. He's big and physical and needs time to develop.
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|
39:
Pittsburgh Steelers
|
Kendrell Bell
|
ILB
|
Georgia Bulldogs
|
| Bit of a surprise here at 39. He's a typical big, physical player Bill Cowher likes. Not sure at this point if he has the range. A linebacker coach in this league that I respect felt he was more of a third-round pick and is not as good as people think, but I know Cowher will get him to play. A typical Steeler selection.
|
|
38:
Chicago Bears
|
Anthony Thomas
|
FB
|
Michigan Wolverines
|
| His critics say he ran behind an offensive line full of No. 1 draft picks. He's better than they think. He's physical and is capable of the big run and in Chicago he's a good match with James Allen. Thomas could challenge for the starting job but the Bears will be better suited with two guys splitting the time. The Bears are going to do more power running than they've done in the past and he fits the bill.
|
|
37:
Indianapolis Colts
|
Idrees Bashir
|
S
|
Memphis Tigers
|
| Is considered by many secondary coaches the best deep middle player in the draft. He's the best free safety in a draft full of strong safeties. He has range and can really help the Colts. At 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, he ran 4.5 flat and has a reputation to play the ball well when it's up.
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|
36:
Cincinnati Bengals
|
Chad Johnson
|
WR
|
Oregon St. Beavers
|
| Cousin of Bucs wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, except faster and even Keyshawn admits that. In Chad's mind, he was the best receiver in this draft and ask Notre Dame, it might agree. He doesn't run all the routes but is a vertical threat. He has shown the ability to be explosive after the catch. Was a clear first-round pick until a poor 40 in the Combine, which I witnessed and I still think he slipped on the third step and then slipped into the second round and then slipped to the Cincinnati Bengals. He will challenge Peter Warrick for the No. 1 job. The Bengals weren't overly excited about Ron Dugans, a pick from last year and now have a solid receiver duo.
|
|
35:
Atlanta Falcons
|
Alge Crumpler
|
TE
|
North Carolina Tar Heels
|
| Ranked No. 1 on some boards at the tight end position. He's not the deep threat Heap is but is a physical player who will do extremely well on the short area routes. He will compete for the ball in the air and has enough wiggle to get something done after the catch. His stock went up at the Combine and he is a probable starter very early in his career. With Michael Vick eventually at QB scrambling around, Crumpler must learn to convert routes and show up in front of Vick.
|
|
34:
Arizona Cardinals
|
Kyle Vanden Bosch
|
DE
|
Nebraska Cornhuskers
|
| He was impressive at the Combine. He showed great measurables in every test and showed on tape to have a great motor. Some consider him and overachiever but you need players like this on your team. He reminds me of Chad Bratzke but further along in development at this point in his career.
|
|
33:
Cleveland Browns
|
Quincy Morgan
|
WR
|
Kansas St. Wildcats
|
| Was considered a first-round talent at the end of the season and simply some juniors came into this draft and he slid back a little. Cleveland found its top receiver, Kevin Johnson, in the second round in a prior draft. And they knew they'd find a quality player here and they have. To think that they have Gerard Warren and Quincy Morgan as opposed to David Terrell and who knows, is good for the team. Quincy has impressed me with his ability to separate on deep routes and I particularly like his post corner route, which is rare for college kids to run it as well as he does.
|
|
32:
San Diego Chargers
|
Drew Brees
|
QB
|
Purdue Boilermakers
|
| In one of the greatest draft-day manuevers in history, Chargers general manager John Butler secured the running back he wanted and got the quarterback he wanted. San Diego offensive coordinator Norv Turner will love coaching the accurate, productive, polished passer. He was inconsistent at the Combine and created enough doubt to drop him to the second round. No one should be confused about his speed when compared to Michael Vick, but Brees runs a 4.8 which is fast for a quarterback.
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