|
32. Cleveland: WR Dennis Northcutt, Arizona
First impression: Northcutt may be undersized at 5-10, 175 pounds, but he has great
speed and athletic ability and has proved to be durable and productive. He could give the
Browns the No. 2 pass catcher that they need behind Kevin Johnson.
Buchsbaum says: A phenomenal pick. He’s got great run-after-the catch ability, can
line up in the slot and be very effective. He’s got the home-run speed Cleveland
needs.
Top of page
33. New Orleans: DE Darren Howard, Kansas State
First impression: Howard has the ability to be an NFL pass rusher. He just needs to
show it more consistently.
Buchsbaum says: A good second-round pick. Would have been a reach in he first.
He’s a pass-rushing end who’s not superfast but has a knack for getting to the
quarterback.
Top of page
34. Cincinnati: CB Mark Roman, Louisiana State
First impression: Roman needs work on his discipline and technique, but he fulfills a
pressing need for the Bengals in the secondary. Roman could end up as a good safety.
Buchsbaum says: Showed he could play cornerback as well as safety at his workout. That
was the big thing. He’s a superb athlete with good football instincts.
Top of page
35. San Francisco: DE John Engelberger, Virginia Tech
First impression: While he didn’t dominate in college, Engelberger played hard and
well. He’s the next piece of the puzzle in the 49ers’ attempts to rebuild their
defense.
Buchsbaum says: Is a tough, hard-nosed, blue-collar player with excellent speed. But
he’s not a real natural pass rusher.
Top of page
36. Philadelphia: WR Todd Pinkston, Southern
Mississippi
First impression: Pinkston has good height (6-1) but a narrow build (174 pounds). He
can adjust to the ball well, make the tough catches and plays without fear. Pinkston gives
Eagles QB Donovan McNabb another pass-catching target downfield, something the Eagles
lack.
Buchsbaum says: Great pick for the Eagles because he fits what they need. He catches
extremely well and has big-play speed. If he weighed 20 pounds more, he would have been
the third wide receiver taken.
Top of page
37. Atlanta: OT Travis Claridge, USC
First impression: Claridge was a four-year starter who improved a lot as a senior. He
has a good work ethic and solid intangibles. He’s an aggressive run blocker and an
improving pass blocker.
Buchsbaum says: Fills a need at either tackle or guard. The Falcons want someone to
push at right tackle. Claridge is a Reeves guy, a tough guy. He’s not quite as
athletic as people would like, and he doesn’t have real lower size or strength.
Top of page
38. Pittsburgh: OT Marvel Smith, Arizona State
First impression: Smith has nice size and his steady, but he did not perform all that
well last season, often playing too upright and without good knee bend. But he addresses a
top Steelers need and could help at either OT spot.
Buchsbaum says: They needed a tackle badly. Smith’s got the tools to develop into
an outstanding left or right tackle. He’s a very powerful man, but he didn’t
play nearly up to his ability level last year. Smith could have very easily gone in the
first round.
Top of page
39. Chicago: S Mike Brown, Nebraska
First impression: Brown isn’t tall, fast or nifty as scouts would like, but
he’s still a very good safety. The Bears certainly needed to improve their depth at
that position.
Buchsbaum says: A helluva player. He’s small, but he has great instincts and
anticipation, is a leader and a player maker.
Top of page
40. Denver: LB Ian Gold, Michigan
First impression: Gold will probably be best-used as a nickel linebacker and a
special-teams player. He’s a very good athlete and is very active.
Buchsbaum says: Cover-type linebacker who might play strong safety. Excellent
special-teams player. Very aggressive and reckless.
Top of page
41. Arizona: LB Raynoch Thompson, Tennessee
First impression: Very athletic but undersized "Will" linebacker. He’s
very quick, fast and agile and gets quick depth on his pass drops. Thompson has the speed
to run with backs and can make play all over the field. However, he does not take on
blocks and well and tends to play too upright.
Buchsbaum says: Very, very athletic linebacker. Plays a lot faster than his recent
times. Lost weight and speed after hernia surgery and was never healthy for his workouts.
Could be a steal.
Top of page
42. N.Y. Giants: DT Cornelius Griffin, Alabama
First impression: Griffin’s Senior Bowl work greatly improved his worth. He’s
very active for an inside player and runs well for a defensive tackle.
Buchsbaum says: Really upgraded stock in Senior Bowl. Big enough to play tackle, fast
enough to play end. Hard-working kid who seemed to pick things up ath te Bowl, where he
went from a fourth to a legi econd.
Top of page
43. San Diego: S Rogers Beckett, Marshall
First impression: Beckett looks the part, but he’s a hold-and-cold hitter. While
he makes some big plays and big hits, he lacks experience in man coverage and tends to
allow too much cushion.
Buchsbaum says: Big free safety with a lot of range. Should complement Rodney Harrison
well. Good hands for interceptions and can play the ball. Has some niftiness about him.
Top of page
44. Green Bay: OT Chad Clifton, Tennessee
First impression: The Packers say they’re comfortable with their depth on the
offensive line, but they really need an upgrade. Clifton provides just that, though
he’s worked out a lot better than he’s played.
Buchsbaum says: Gives the Packers versatility in that he can play guard or tackle on
both sides of the line. He can be physical in the running game and provides depth on the
offensive line, which has been a concern since the team lost Adam Timmerman last year.
Clifton is also a hedge against ORT Earl Dotson, who has had back problems.
Top of page
45. Denver (from Baltimore): S Kenoy Kennedy, Arkansas
First impression: Both of their top picks were used on the secondary. They obviously
don’t feel Dale Carter is in the picture anymore.
Buchsbaum says: Big, big hitter and very physical. The Broncos want him to be the next
Steve Atwater, but Atwater had better speed and range. Seems to be a little bit of a reach
where he was taken.
Top of page
46. New England: OT Adrian Klemm, Hawaii
First impression: Klemm is sort of a young Brad Hopkins in that he’s a 300-pounder
with excellent feet, balance and agility. He’s also raw around the edges, as was
Hopkins, who was a tight end.
Buchsbaum says: Great pick. Will be used at left tackle, which they had to fill with
Bruce Armtrong demanding huge money and not likely to come back. Even if he does, Klemm
could develop behind Armstrong.
Top of page
47. Oakland: WR Jerry Porter, West Virginia
First impression: Porter has been described as a selfish, me-type kid, but he’s a
not a malicious kid. The Raiders needed another receiver to join Tim Brown and James Jett,
and Porter could win the No. 2 job.
Buchsbaum says: Big, fast receiver with great jumping ability and upside potential.
Size fits what the Raiders wanted in a pass catcher. The problem is, Porter played three
positions in college (QB S, WR) and wasn’t as productive until the end of season,
when he moved to receiver.
Top of page
48. San Francisco (from N.Y. Jets): CB Jason Webster, Texas A&M
First impression: Webster is a natural cornerback and a natural football player who was
downgraded because of his size. He’s not a numbers guy, but he’s a player.
Webster is yet another piece of the Niners’ DB puzzle, which, as you can see, is in
the process of being overhauled.
Buchsbaum says: Pure corner with excellent cover skills. He’s a willing hitter who
plays bigger than his size, is feisty, has good hands and can turn, run and find the ball.
Top of page
49. Dallas: CB Dwayne Goodrich, Tennessee
First impression: Goodrich has size and speed, but he’s given up way too many big
plays. He lacks discipline and does a lot of guessing. However, he can outrun some of his
mistakes. With Deion Sanders on his way out of town, the Cowboys need help in the
secondary.
Buchsbaum says: Personnel guy Larry Lacewell connection. Lacewell was a coach at
Tennessee for a long time. Goodrich moved up with a great workout. Did not have a good
senior year; he played better as a junior. Not known as a great character guy.
Top of page
50. Detroit: LB Barrett Green, West Virginia
First impression: Green is a supertough and active player, but he needs to learn how to
play under control more often. With the Lions returning their starting LB corps for the
first time under head coach Bobby Ross, Green will provide solid depth and some punch in
the team’s nickel packages.
Buchsbaum says: An excellent pick. Tremendous linebacker. If he were 6 feet, he would
have been a first-rounder. Flies to the ball, has speed to cover and is a great
special-teams value.
Top of page
51. Tampa Bay (from Carolina): OG Cosey Coleman, Tennessee
First impression: Despite the acquisition of veteran OG Randall McDaniel, the Bucs
needed depth on the offensive line. McDaniel is nearing the end of an illustrious career,
and Coleman could eventually take over. This season, though, Coleman should develop behind
McDaniel and Frank Middleton.
Buchsbaum says: The Bucs were going to consider Coleman with the 26th pick
had they kept it. They couldn’t believe he was still available, and guard is a need.
The teams up after this pick would certainly have jumped at him, so Tampa had to make a
move.
Top of page
52. Seattle: CB Ike Charlton, Virginia Tech
First impression: Charlton could make it as either a corner or a safety. He’s
strong and physical and once vertical-jumped 42 inches. He adds to an increasingly deep
position.
Buchsbaum says: Seattle wanted another corner, and he gives the team two new ones
(including Fred Vinson, acquired in a trade from Green Bay). Charlton is a playmaker
He’s got good speed and a knack for making big plays. He’s a confident, cocky
kid. He’s not tall, but he has good weight.
Top of page
53. Miami: OT Todd Wade, Mississippi
First impression: Wade is a hulk of a man at 6-7, 325 pounds. His combination of size
and potential makes him an intriguing prospect. Despite his size, Wade is surprisingly
light on his feet, but his height has allowed defenders to get beneath him.
Buchsbaum says: Dolphins needed a right tackle to push James Brown. Wade is a natural
right tackle and a huge man with excellent mobility for his size. The Dolphins are going
to have to work hard with him because everything he does is inconsistent. He plays too
straight-legged.
Top of page
54. Kansas City: CB Williams Bartee, Oklahoma
First impression: Teams are looking for big corners these days, and Bartee is just that
at 6-2, 192 pounds. He had an outstanding Combine workout.
Buchsbaum says: Big, physical corner. The Chiefs have a lot of age at the position, and
Bartee’s a guy on the come who could start. Moved to corner from safety late in the
year and really came on.
Top of page
55. Minnesota: DT Fred Robbins, Wake Forest
First impression: Robbins adds further depth to a defensive line that was lacking it.
His selection could make it very hard for Jerry Ball to make the team.
Buchsbaum says: Big, strong, mobile defensive tackle who shows flashes but is not
consistent in anything he does. A little bit of an underachiever whom they hope to
motivate.
Top of page
56. Minnesota (from Washington): DE Michael Boireau, Miami (Fla.)
First impression: The Vikings need ends, and Boireau could help the team’s pass
rush. Minnesota’s current starters are Fernando Smith and John Burrough, and
that’s just not good enough.
Buchsbaum says: Has some pass-rush ability, size and athletic ability. Worked out at
the end, which moved him up. He can start for them at either DE spot, most likely the
right one, and they have have a big need there.
Top of page
57. Carolina (from Tampa Bay): S Deon Grant, Tennessee
First impression: Will start along with Mike Minter in a changing secondary.
Buchsbaum says: Big, with a lot of range vs. the pass. Has excellent hands and ball
skills but is a poor tackler and a reluctant hitter. His toughness and 40-time cost him a
first-round pick.
Top of page
58. Buffalo: S Travares Tillman, Georgia Tech
First impression: Tillman fills a need at free safety.
Buchsbaum says: Big, fast safety who was hurt by having to play cornerback this past
season. A much better safety than cornerback. Has good range and will hit and tackle. The
Bills are hoping Tillman will step right in and replace free-agent departee Kurt Schultz
at free safety.
Top of page
59. Indianapolis: OLB-DE Marcus Washington, Auburn
First impression: Doesn’t fill a specific need, but he could prove valuable as a
situational pass rusher until he’s ready to challenge for a starting role.
Buchsbaum says: Washington will spend one year learning from Cornelius Bennett and then
take over. A big, athletic linebacker. Although he played a lot of defensive end as a
senior, he may be used as a pass-rushing OLB this year. He’s another pick who’ll
put the Colts on the fast track to the Super Bowl.
Top of page
60. Jacksonville: C Brad Meester, Northern Iowa
First impression: Meester will probably back up John Wade, but he could eventually
challenge Wade at center.
Buchsbaum says: Guy who moved way up at the Senior Bowl. In all his workouts he did
well, and he showed he could play with more weight and still move as well.
Top of page
61. Philadelphia (from Tennessee): OG Bobby Williams, Arkansas
First impression: The Eagles needed more depth on the offensive line, and Williams will
provide that. They liked him enough to trade a third-round pick (No. 68) and a
fifth-rounder (No. 135) to move up and draft him.
Buchsbaum says: Big, physical, extremely gifted offensive lineman. Really seemed to
turn the corner as a senior. Fat, lazy underachiever until then. Now they can put Williams
with Jon Runyan on one side, and Doug Brzezinski and Tra Thomas on the other (along with
veteran Steve Everitt in the middle) and have a big offensive line they can keep together
for years.
Top of page
62. St. Louis: CB Jacoby Shepherd,
Oklahoma State
First impression: The Rams were in a position to draft for depth, but they made need
Shepherd depending upon what happens with free agent CB Todd Lyght.
Buchsbaum says: Big, potentially physical corner with great hips for a big corner. Had
only limited experience at Oklahoma State. Had great workouts. Gives the Rams a
much-needed third corner. He can also play safety.
Top of page
Back to Draft Day index page |
