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1. Atlanta (from San Diego): QB Michael Vick, Virginia Tech
First impression: No surprise here. The Falcons decided they were willing to pay
Vick’s asking price (reportedly a $15 million signing bonus). The Falcons will groom
him to take over for Chris Chandler in a year or two.
Buchsbaum says: Vick has unlimited physical potential. He has great arm strength, rare
mobility and even rarer vision to escape the rush. He could be a great running back, a
great safety. The question is, if they try to put him in a system that’s too
disciplined, will he try to think instead of react and lose his naturalness. That’s
what happened to Kordell Stewart in Pittsburgh after Chan Gailey left. To be effective, he
has to have some freedom; he must be given a lot of leeway. On the downside, he’s
very immature, Very often in college, he didn’t go through his progressions; he would
take off after just one or two reads. Because he’s such a reckless runner, he’s
an injury risk. If he reaches his true potential, he could be Steve Young with a stronger
arm and better running speed. And Young had great speed and running ability. In a
worst-case scenario, he could be another Bobby Douglass, who could never harness his
fabulous raw talent. But while Vick is not nearly as big as Douglass was, he is faster.
Douglass was a big lefty from Kansas (6-4, 225) with 4.6 speed and a cannon arm. One point
everyone, including Chargers coach Mike Riley, makes is that the Chargers may have passed
up the next Michael Jordan. However, there is a huge difference in that everything was
positive on Jordan and there was no question he would make a remarkable pro. The only
question was how great he would be. On the other hand, there is a much greater risk factor
involved with Vick. While Jordan was ready to step in right away and make an impact, it
may be awhile before Vick becomes the focal point of the Falcons’ offense.
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2. Arizona: OT Leonard Davis, Texas
First impression: A surprising pick considering the Cardinals’ needs, but Davis is
very highly regarded and might have been selected at No. 2 by other clubs if they had been
in this position.
Buchsbaum says: He is a great raw talent. There really are not any players like him who
are that big and have his football skills. He’s not fat at 365; he’s just overly
big. The only question is: What are the Cardinals going to do with their defensive line?
On offense, the Cards already have two, young, promising offensive tackles who are going
to be very well-paid if they’re not already, a high-priced guard in Pete Kendall and
quite a bit of money wrapped up in C Mike Gruttadauria.
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3. Cleveland: DT Gerard Warren, Florida
First impression: Although the Browns were thought be looking at a skill-position
player (WR David Terrell or RBs LaDainian Tomlinson and Deuce McAllister), they just
couldn’t pass up Warren, who was considered by most teams to be the second-best
athlete available in the draft.
Buchsbaum says: Warren has cat-like quickness. He’s naturally strong and
explosive. He has the ability to be a Jerome Brown-type dominating inside force, but he
doesn’t have Brown’s speed or quite his pass-rushing ability. He can play in
either a one- or two-gap defense and be a dominating force. Although they probably
won’ be quite at that level, if he and Courtney Brown develop the way they could,
they could be almost as dominating as Reggie White and Jerome Brown were before
Brown’s tragic death.
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4. Cincinnati: DE Justin Smith, Missouri
First impression: Smith’s stock rose like a rocket in the weeks preceding the
draft. His presence will substantially fortify the Bengals’ young defense. He should
provide the impact pass rusher the Bengals so desperately needed.
Buchsbaum says: He gives the Bengals a tremendous speed pass rusher. His selection
means they are going away from a 3-4 concept to a 4-3. He’s a great edge rusher. Some
people might compare him to (the Eagles’) Mike Mamula, but he’s a naturally
stronger man, probably a better all-around athlete and much more dedicated to the game.
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5. San Diego (from Atlanta): RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Texas Christian
First impression: The Chargers made out like bandits with this pick — unless, of
course, Michael Vick becomes a superstar. Nevertheless, the Chargers came away with
someone who is almost certain to make an instant impact, rather than gambling on potential
greatness a couple of years from now, as they had done with the Ryan Leaf pick.
Buchsbaum says: This is a fabulous pick for the Chargers. They had Tomlinson rated as
the No. 1 player on their board, and they were considering taking him with the first
overall pick if they hadn’t been able to trade it. They also got a third-rounder, a
second-rounder in 2002 and, in WR Tim Dwight, a very dangerous return man, a top
competitor and one of the fastest men in the NFL, and also a player who may be developed
into an effective slot receiver. However, Dwight is short, he doesn’t have the surest
hands in the league and he’s so tough that he plays too big for his body, which can
lead to injury. In other words, with this draft pick, the Chargers got the guy they wanted
in Tomlinson while still dropping down and picking up extra picks. No wonder nobody wants
to play poker with John Butler.
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6. New England: DT Richard Seymour, Georgia
First impression: No surprise here. The selection makes sense both in terms of need and
value at this spot, and the Patriots need players they can count on to contribute.
Buchsbaum says: It’s a safe pick, a solid pick and a need pick. Seymour is a very
young and still developing player who, at his best, can be a dominating player at times.
He has the size and power to play inside and enough speed and quickness to play left
(power) end in almost any defense. He can be either a one- or two-gap player. One of the
pluses about Seymour is how young he is, and it’s very unusual to find someone
weighing 300 pounds at his age who is as coordinated as he is.
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7. San Francisco (from Dallas through Seattle): DE Andre Carter,
California
First impression: The 49ers didn’t really give up a lot to trade up for Carter
(basically a third-rounder), although Carter is a player on whom opinion is somewhat
mixed.
Buchsbaum says: Great worker with great intangibles, outstanding technique and 4.6
speed. He has the potential to be a big-time pass-rushing defensive end in the 49ers’
scheme and should complement DT Bryant Young very well. The 49ers were convinced Carter
would go to the Bears at No. 8, whereas Seattle saw how many good players were lasting
that interested them, such as the wide receivers, and were not quite as enamored with
Carter, who is slightly undersized, as some other teams were. Carter is sort of in a
Peyton Manning-type scenario, meaning he’s the son of a former All-Pro who trained
him very well but who some felt had perhaps peaked in college; yet Manning has made
greater strides in three years in the NFL than he made in four years in college.
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8. Chicago: WR David Terrell, Michigan
First impression: This was a surprising pick only in the sense that very few people
expected Terrell to still be on the board when the Bears selected. They simply felt they
couldn’t pass him up.
Buchsbaum says: Terrell was one of the top three or four players on the Bears’
draft board. He gives them tremendous size at wideout (to go with Marcus Robinson),
downfield speed and jumping ability. He is a better version of Arizona Cardinal WR David
Boston. If Cade McNown can’t make it with the receivers he has now, the Bears may
have to rethink their QB plans for the future. The way the Bears are thinking is that
Terrell and Robinson can do for them what Randy Moss and Cris Carter can do for the
Vikings. By that I mean give them instant mismatches on the outside, where if you throw a
jump ball or a ball your receiver has to come back for on a deep pattern, it is likely
that the receiver will either catch the ball or draw an interference call. Also, if
Terrell wants to, he can be a very physical blocker, and he can even be the safety or
cornerback in six- or seven-man secondaries. With his height and ball skills, he is very
effective defending Hail Mary endzone passes. Now if Dez White ever learns to run routes
and catch the ball, the Bears can field a trio of potential home-run hitters at wide
receiver who all have size. They also can use Bobby Engram as a slot receiver in
possession situations. It also means they probably will try to deal either D’wayne
Bates, Marty Booker or Macey Brooks for a conditional draft pick.
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9. Seattle (from San Francisco): WR Koren Robinson, North Carolina
State
First impression: A gamble-on-greatness pick, Robinson could become a star or cause his
coach to pull out his hair.
Buchsbaum says: Koren Robinson is a lot like Michael Vick in that he is a supertalented
but somewhat risky selection because of his immaturity. He and Vick were probably the best
two pure athletes in the draft and have the most upside potential. Robinson must overcome
his tendency to run before he catches the ball and to not look it into his hands. He also
must work much harder on his pass routes. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mike
Holmgren now makes a big push to bring Jerry Rice in to mentor Robinson the way Cris
Carter mentored Randy Moss. If Holmgren can pull that off and get similar results to what
Minnesota got with the Moss-Carter combination, he will have gotten the receiver who was
first on their draft board and also replaced his third-round pick that he had lost
earlier. Despite his subpar 40-times, Robinson plays as fast as anyone in the draft. He
may run 4.6 for the stopwatch, but he runs to the ball faster than the corners with 4.4
speed who are covering him. He’s at his very best as a return man and runner after
the catch. Furthermore, going to a city like Seattle should benefit Robinson the way going
to Minnesota helped Moss, because it will easier to mentor him in that setting than it
would be if he were around the corner from a glamour city such as New York or Los Angeles.
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10. Green Bay (from Seattle): DE Jamal Reynolds, Florida State
First impression: The Packers wanted an impact pass rusher, and they had seen Justin
Smith and Andre Carter taken off the board before their selection, so they felt compelled
to take Reynolds.
Buchsbaum says: He may be the best pure pass rusher in the entire draft. He has had
some awesome games over the course of his career. He may have worn down a little bit or
been affected by the injuries he was playing with late last year.
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11. Carolina: LB Dan Morgan, Miami (Fla.)
First impression: This is a safe pick for a team that needs players.
Buchsbaum says: Morgan is a player with unparalleled work ethic and great leadership
qualities. Because of his tremendous work ethic both on the field and in the weight room,
he has developed to the point where he can put up prototype numbers for all the tests.
However, he is not a great natural athlete like Ray Lewis is, which may keep him from
becoming a super-sensational pro. However, barring injury, he should have a very long and
productive career. He fills two gaping needs for Carolina, one at linebacker and also in
terms of leadership, with Reggie White probably becoming history in the Panthers’
plans.
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12. St. Louis (from Kansas City): DT Damione Lewis, Miami (Fla.)
First impression: With most of the defensive players the Rams wanted getting picked off
ahead of them, the Rams filled a glaring need with this pick, even though most draft
boards had Lewis projected as going somewhat lower in the first round.
Buchsbaum says: The Rams lost the player they coveted in Dan Morgan but got a player
their defensive coordinator, Lovie Smith, wanted badly. Lewis is a cat-quick, disruptive
interior player who fits the defense that Smith wants to play to a T. Smith is convinced
in his defense, which is very similar to Tampa Bay’s, that Lewis can make close to a
Warren Sapp-type impact.
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13. Jacksonville: DT Marcus Stroud, Georgia
First impression: The Jaguars decided to roll the dice a little with a player who has a
boom-or-bust label.
Buchsbaum says: Stroud is a huge man who will be a dominating presence on the inside,
which is something Jacksonville has never had on its defense before. Stroud has a lot of
growing up to do, and he needs a great deal of technique work, but his stock skyrocketed
at Senior Bowl practices when he showed that when playing proper technique, bending his
knees and keeping his back flat, he was almost unblockable by a single man and had
phenomenal natural strength.
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14. Tampa Bay (from Buffalo): OT Kenyatta Walker, Florida
First impression: Walker fills a need for the Bucs, and he also was good value at this
spot.
Buchsbaum says: The Bucs absolutely loved Walker from the get-go. If they could have
picked any player from this draft to fit their offense, Walker would have been the man.
They felt he was a much better fit for them than Leonard Davis and loved the way he used
his arms and moved his feet in pass protection. In effect, the Bucs feel as though they
gave up a late second-round pick for a player they probably would have taken if they had
had the second or third overall pick in the draft.
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15. Washington: WR Rod Gardner, Clemson
First impression: Wideout was an area of great need for the Redskins, so this pick
makes sense.
Buchsbaum says: Gardner is a big, very physical receiver with terrific hands and ball
skills. He may be the purest pass catcher of the wideouts in the draft who also have
speed, with the only possible exception being Miami’s Reggie Wayne. He can also be a
very physical blocker. Jeff George had his greatest success throwing to big receivers in
Minnesota, and now with Gardner and Michael Westbrook, he will two big, talented receivers
who have great strength and can catch in traffic.
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16. N.Y. Jets (from Pittsburgh): WR Santana Moss, Miami (Fla.)
First impression: When the Redskins took Rod Gardner with the previous pick, the Jets
were worried that Moss might be off the board when the 19th selection rolled
around, so they gave up two extra picks to move up and take Moss.
Buchsbaum says: A dynamic impact player who can change field position faster than
anyone but the referee. Also a dynamic punt returner who brought back four for touchdowns
last year. Played against the best competition and the best corners in college and
dominated. As a junior in the Kickoff Classic, he went against Ahmad Plummer, subsequently
a first-round pick by the 49ers, and made Plummer look as if he couldn’t run.
Although short, Moss is very well-built and has rare jumping ability. He also is a
terrific competitor. He will give the Jets an element they hadn’t had since Wesley
Walker was in his prime.
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17. Seattle (from Green Bay): OG Steve Hutchinson, Michigan
First impression: Great pick. This may have been the best value of any pick thus far.
Buchsbaum says: Hutchinson is a great football player and a dominating player, a real
warrior and perhaps Michigan’s best offensive lineman since Mike Kenn. He adds
toughness and leadership to the line. The toughness is a vital factor because, combined
with Chris McIntosh, the Seahawks now have two real warriors on the line to go with Walter
Jones and Floyd Weddington, who would be much better players — and in the case of
Jones, a truly great player — if they would adopt the work ethic and tenacity of
their linemates. He also is a major upgrade over the guard they lost, Pete Kendall, and
that is not to say that Kendall isn’t a very good guard, but Hutchinson can be the
type of guy who goes to a lot of Pro Bowls in the upcoming decade. It would not have been
a reach if he had gone in the Nos. 9-12 area of the first round.
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18. Detroit: OT Jeff Backus, Michigan
First impression: Backus is the type of player that new GM Matt Millen loves, a hard
worker who is versatile. Although the Lions have spent some high picks on offensive
linemen in recent years, those picks haven’t yet paid off the way the team had hoped.
Buchsbaum says: For the third year in a row, the Lions take a player who can play guard
or tackle in the first round. Thus far, Aaron Gibson has been a major disappointment
because of his inability to stay on the field. And, after being set back by an injury last
year, Stockar McDougle really came on for the Lions, but there is still some question as
to whether he is a true left tackle. Backus started at left tackle the last four years at
Michigan and is a very smart, technically sound football player who has improved every
year. He also can play right tackle and both OG slots. He helps the Lions make up for the
free-agent loss of OG Jeff Hartings.
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19. Pittsburgh (from N.Y. Jets): DT Casey Hampton, Texas
First impression: Bill Cowher likes overachievers, and that is what Hampton is. With
the Steelers in somewhat of a decline the past few years, Cowher preferred to draft a
somewhat less talented player he could count on, rather than make a boom-or-bust type of
pick.
Buchsbaum says: Hampton is the type of player whom, if you just look at his size-speed
ratio, body and workout numbers, you wouldn’t consider drafting until late in the
draft. However, he is a Dan Morgan-like leader with a great work ethic who can dominate in
the middle of the line and be the type of player that Joel Steed was in his prime. While
he may not rjun a good 40-time, he has quickness in a limited area. What makes him special
is his natural instinct for the football, his ability to anchor vs. the run and the
strength in his lower body.
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20. St. Louis: S Adam Archuleta, Arizona State
First impression: The Rams used their second pick of the first round on defense as
well, so they are filling some big needs today on a unit that let them down badly last
season.
Buchsbaum says: Archuleta gives the Rams the same element they were looking for with
Dan Morgan — a great worker with superior workout numbers and a very natural football
player who has an incredible devotion to the game. While he will be making the conversion
from college linebacker to NFL safety, as was the case with Carnell Lake, he spent the
week playing safety at the Senior Bowl and played it well. That, plus phenomenal workouts,
led to his being an exclamation point instead of a question mark on many teams’
boards. The most important reason he was taken over the cornerbacks remaining was his
great intangibles. Otherwise, the Rams would have used this pick on Ohio State CB Nate
Clements.
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21. Buffalo (from Tampa Bay): CB Nate Clements, Ohio State
First impression: The Bills couldn’t be happier that Clements was still available.
Buchsbaum says: Clements is probably the top-rated corner in this draft. He has all the
physical tools and is a great worker, but he still is raw around the edges when it comes
to man-on-man pass coverage and must learn not to bite so quickly on double moves. An
added dimension is that he is one of the top punt returners in this draft and an excellent
special-teams player. If the Bills had stayed at No. 14, he would have been their pick
there. So, in effect, they got a free No. 2.
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22. N.Y. Giants (from Indianapolis): CB Will Allen, Syracuse
First impression: The Giants gave up two extra picks (Nos. 91 and 193) to move up and
take Allen, whom they preferred over two highly rated Big Ten cornerbacks, Jamar Fletcher
and Willie Middlebrooks.
Buchsbaum says: Allen is a developing corner who is big enough to match up with most
receivers and has great speed. While he’s raw around the edges and needs to improve
his focus, he has tremendous upside and also can be a fine return man. He fits the
Giants’ mold at cornerback and gives them the speed they lacked at the position last
year.
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23. New Orleans: RB Deuce McAllister, Mississippi
First impression: A very, very surprising pick by the Saints, considering they have the
talented Ricky Williams as their workhorse running back and a number of pressing needs. It
may not be as surprising a maneuver as Mike Ditka’s packaging of a barrelful of picks
to draft Williams previously, but it comes close.
Buchsbaum says: This pick tells us two things: The Saints are very concerned about
Ricky Williams’ ability to stay healthy and his attitude, and they have a tremendous
regard for Deuce McAllister, who can also be used as a slot receiver, a pass-catching
H-back and an excellent kickoff returner and good punt returner. He has exceptional
pass-catching skills for a running back, but his durability has been a big concern
recently. Going into the Senior Bowl, McAllister was rated above LaDainian Tomlinson on
most draft boards. But while Tomlinson played with a minor injury and had a sensational
week of practices when he was able to practice, McAllister bowed out, much to the chagrin
of scouts who had begun to question his ability to play through pain. The difference
between McAllister’s and Tomlinson’s contracts will show how much money
Tomlinson made by going to play in the Senior Bowl and how much money McAllister cost
himself.
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24. Denver: CB Willie Middlebrooks, Minnesota
First impression: The Broncos filled a need as expected with this pick.
Buchsbaum says: Middlebrooks is a prototype corner on paper — he’s big,
he’s fast, he’s a good-testing athlete, he can catch the ball, and he’s a
hitter. However, he’s coming off an injury. He’s the type of raw talent that new
defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes really wanted, and he’s the type of player Rhodes
feels he can develop into an outstanding player. However, many other teams question
whether Middlebrooks has the natural instinct and feel for the game that a great corner
must have in the NFL. On the other hand, Denver feels what these teams are seeing is more
a lack of experience in training than anything else.
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25. Philadelphia: WR Freddie Mitchell, UCLA
First impression: Donovan McNabb will be thrilled with this pick, as Mitchell should
make an instant impact with the Eagles’ offense.
Buchsbaum says: One of the very best value picks in the draft. If teams had drafted on
ability without regard to supply and demand at each position, he would have been one of
the top 15 players drafted. He is a cocky person who, like players such as Andre Rison,
can back up what he says. He can be an acrobatic deep threat; he shows courage catching in
traffic, runs well after the catch and also is an excellent option passer. The big
question on him concerns what some people consider an oversized ego and a love of the
limelight. However, he’s one of those players who craves the ball when the game is on
the line and is a true No. 1 receiver, which is something the Eagles haven’t had
since Mike Quick.
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26. Miami: CB Jamar Fletcher, Wisconsin
First impression: Dave Wannstedt has chosen production over potential with this pick.
Buchsbaum says: Fletcher’s addition gives the Dolphins a terrific third corner and
a real playmaker. It also will allow them to move one of their corners, probably Patrick
Surtain, inside at times against teams that use three wideouts. He’s one of those
players who doesn’t have good workout numbers but has great instincts, vision and
coordination. It will be interesting to see who has a better career, he or Willie
Middlebrooks, since they are polar opposites.
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27. Minnesota: RB Michael Bennett, Wisconsin
First impression: The Vikings filled a huge hole with this selection, although some
critics may decry the fact they ignored their defense once again in the first round.
Buchsbaum says: He’s a back with great speed and breakaway ability and tremendous
upside. Having started only one year at Wisconsin, he’s a work in progress. But while
not as instinctive or elusive, in many respects he is similar to the back he’s
replacing, Robert Smith. The two areas in which he will need the most improvement are
picking up the blitz and catching the ball down the field.
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28. Oakland: S Derrick Gibson, Florida State
First impression: The Raiders rarely fail to surprise with their first-round pick, and
this year is no exception.
Buchsbaum says: Gibson is a great workout guy who appears to have all the physical
tools on paper, except for two things. From a physical standpoint, he’s not a very
fluid athlete who can turn his hips quickly and redirect as fast as he would like, but
once he gets going, he has great closing speed. He also can be a very explosive hitter and
tackler. He fits the Raiders’ defense better than he fit most teams’ defenses,
because the Raiders will rarely ask him to cover the slot receiver and they want a safety
who will clobber receivers coming over the middle. However, most clubs would not have
taken him in the first round. In some ways he’s like former Raider first-round pick
Patrick Bates, but he is much tougher.
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29. St. Louis (from Tennessee): DT Ryan Pickett, Ohio State
First impression: The Rams’ third defensive pick, and the first round isn’t
over year. They’re clearly focusing where they need to, although this selection at
first glance appears to be a bit of a reach.
Buchsbaum says: Pickett is what I call a "need-system-upside" player. He fits
the upfield charging mold that Lovie Smith wants from his defensive tackles. He came out
early and has a big upside if he’ll work hard, but he never pushed himself to the
limit at Ohio State. Smith and the Rams obviously felt he was more ready and could develop
faster than most other teams did. He would have been a big reach for most teams, but
he’s what I call a plug-in pick in that he is a good fit for the defense he’ll
be in. However, the Rams may have been able to get him with the second-round pick they got
from Kansas City.
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30. Indianapolis: WR Reggie Wayne, Miami (Fla.)
First impression: The team that already had one of the best skill-position lineups in
the league fortifies that area even more. Although offense certainly wasn’t an area
of primary need for the Colts, they did need a No. 2 receiver to go with Marvin Harrison,
and Wayne should fill that role nicely.
Buchsbaum says: Wayne should be a terrific complement to Marvin Harrison and make
Peyton Manning a very happy camper. He hands are almost as good as former Raider Fred
Biletnikoff’s were, and he has outstanding ball skills. While not a deep threat per
se, he can surprise you and get deep at times. He’s a lot like a baseball pitcher
whose best fastball travels 89 mph but who varies his speed so well that when does throw
the 89 mph fastball, it looks to the batter as though it’s going 100 mph. He may be
the most polished and ready-to-play wide receiver in the entire draft.
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31. Baltimore: TE Todd Heap, Arizona State
First impression: For a team that’s already solid, this pick makes sense, as Heap
will eventually take over for Shannon Sharpe.
Buchsbaum says: Heap is a tremendous pass-catching tight end in the Ozzie
Newsome-Shannon Sharpe mold. He’s a very good fit in Brian Billick’s offense,
and getting to learn from Sharpe will only benefit him. This pick was the best athlete
available who fills a need.
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