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33. Houston: WR Jabar Gaffney, Florida
First impression: David Carr gets a playmaking weapon to grow with in Houston.
Buchsbaum says: First-round talent at wide receiver. Very good in all areas except
route-running because they never really had to do it at Florida. I think the fact that
none of Steve Spurrier’s receivers have done much in the NFL is the reason the
Florida receivers lasted as long as they did. Has a chance to be a big-time player and
David Carr’s go-to receiver. Was superproductive at Florida and stepped up big in big
games.
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34. Carolina: RB DeShaun Foster, UCLA
First impression: It was no secret the Panthers wanted to draft a running back, even
with the addition of Lamar Smith. They got a productive one in Foster.
Buchsbaum says: Great pick for them if he can stop fumbling. First-round talent, but
the negative is the fumbles, and he’s shown no indication that he can correct that
because he uses the ball for balance. If he does break the habit and it doesn’t
affect his running style, he can be the answer to their RB woes.
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35. Detroit: DE Kalimba Edwards, South Carolina
First impression: A pass-rushing void looks to be filled by the athletic Edwards, who
played both defensive end and outside linebacker in college.
Buchsbaum says: Completes their front four. The Lions needed a right end who can rush
the passer, and that’s his strength. Slipped because of the down senior season and
the injury at the end.
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36. Buffalo: WR Josh Reed, LSU
First impression: The well-built Reed, who PFW ranked as the third-best wide receiver
available, helps form a quality, young WR corps with the likes of Eric Moulds and Peerless
Price.
Buchsbaum says: Great, great pick. I love this guy. Runs with the ball after the catch
as well as anyone I’ve ever scouted. He’s a big-time playmaker without big-time
speed. Very good football player. Only concern is a slight arthritic condition in his hip.
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37. Dallas: OG Andre Gurode, Colorado
First impression: Offensive line is not considered a big priority in Dallas, but a big
and strong blocker who has started at center or guard the past four years will come in
handy.
Buchsbaum says: Excellent pick for the Cowboys. A Texas kid and strong, physical guy
who can play center to replace Stepnoski at center or play across from Larry Allen if
Kelvin Garmon doesn’t continue to improve.
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38. Minnesota: LB Raonall Smith, Washington State
First impression: Starting LB corps from just two years ago is gone, so help was
clearly needed.
Buchsbaum says: Tremendous workout numbers. At times, he looks like a real football
player but at times is also very quiet in terms of making plays. With the loss of Kailee
Wong and the release of Ed McDaniel, they needed linebackers badly, and he has the chance
to be a good player if everything connects. Has all the measurables and now must make them
add up.
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39. San Diego: OG Toniu Fonoti, Nebraska
First impression: The Chargers desperately need help at the OG position, and this
run-blocking mauler should help LaDainain Tomlinson’s cause.
Buchsbaum says: Phenomenal choice. They needed a guard, and he’s a first-round
talent. Phenomenal run blocker and the type of player Marty Schottenheimer likes to have
on his football team. Coming from Nebraska, he needs a lot of work on pass protection. A
player who made a mistake in coming out as a junior. If he could have played in the Senior
Bowl and showed he could pass protect and possibly play tackle, he could have been a
top-10 pick a year from now.
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40. Jacksonville: OT Mike Pearson, Florida
First impression: The Jags needed all kinds of help here, and Pearson is a tough,
reliable blocker who has started at left tackle the past three years.
Buchsbaum says: Fills a need they had at left tackle with a real pass-blocker. This way
they can keep their line the way it is and not shuffle everyone around. And while he
doesn’t have great upside, he is ready to play coming from Florida’s offense,
where they threw a lot and put pressure on their tackles.
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41. Cincinnati: S Lamont Thompson, Washington State
First impression: The Bengals could have used a corner here, but this selection should
help shore up a shaky secondary on an otherwise solid defense.
Buchsbaum says: Gives them a safety who can make plays on the ball. Exceptional hands
and speed and also has exceptional size. Better tackler than hitter. He’s not really
an intimidating player, and his instincts appear to be a little off at times.
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42. Indianapolis: DT Larry Tripplett, Washington
First impression: Fills a serious need for the Colts, who have had trouble stopping the
run for some time.
Buchsbaum says: Perfect fit for Tony Dungy’s defense. Very quick, active,
penetrating player who can play on the nose. Excellent athlete.
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43. Kansas City: DT Eddie Freeman, Alabama-Birmingham
First impression: The Chiefs had no one who could plug the middle last season, and now
they have two with first-rounder Ryan Sims.
Buchsbaum says: They needed defensive tackles, and now they have a pair of them.
Obviously, Sims is the better of the two, but Freeman has big-time size and speed and
could develop into a quality player. He needs to learn to play with his pads lower and
with better leverage.
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44. New Orleans: C LeCharles Bentley, Ohio State
First impression: PFW’s top-rated center on a new-look offensive line.
Buchsbaum says: Best center in the draft. Solid, need-filling pick here for the Saints,
who are coming out of this thing smelling like a rose.
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45. Tennessee: S Clevan "Tank" Williams, Stanford
First impression: Defense has been hurt by free agency and salary-cap limitations,
especially in the secondary, where Williams’ big-hitter mentality will be a plus.
Buchsbaum says: The Titans were looking for a safety with size and speed, and he’s
got an abundance of both. Can be a big-time hitter and can also be worked some as an
outside linebacker..More of an in-the-box type than a center fielder, but he will make
some plays on the ball. Two knocks against him are inconsistency and slow change of
direction.
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46. N.Y. Giants: WR Tim Carter, Auburn
First impression: The Giants wanted some youth in their receiving corps, and Kerry
Collins will love Carter’s speed.
Buchsbaum says: Speed receiver, and the Giants wanted a burner in the worst way. Also a
kick returner, which was another weakness for the Giants. Along with Shockey, he
tremendously upgrades the Giants at receiver and helps them on special teams.
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47. Cleveland: WR André Davis, Virginia
Tech
First impression: Big playmaker to go opposite Kevin Johnson and help with the return
game.
Buchsbaum says: A big, smart receiver with exceptional speed who also excels as a
returner. Home-run hitter who runs well after the catch. Concerns about his hands kept him
from going higher.
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48. San Diego (from Atlanta): WR Reche Caldwell, Florida
First impression: With Curtis Conway getting up there in age and Tim Dwight’s
history as more of a third receiver and return man, Caldwell could step in and be a big
contributor despite the Chargers’ run-first mentality.
Buchsbaum says: A speed type of receiver with big-play ability. Like Gaffney, he lasted
longer than he should because of the lack of success of Spurrier receivers in the NFL. Is
faster than Gaffney but not quite as fluid. Highly productive football player.
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49. Arizona: LB Levar Fisher, North Carolina State
First impression: The Cardinals’defense is in need of a lot, and this guy can
devour running backs.
Buchsbaum says: Fisher is a very active, aggressive linebacker who makes plays. Good
special-teams type. Makes the Cardinals more athletic on defense.
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50. Houston (supplemental): OT-OG Chester Pitts, San Diego State
First impression: Going a little early, but he’ll get a chance to learn behind
some quality veteran linemen.
Buchsbaum says: Big, athletic tackle with quick feet who needs to learn to anchor
better. High-upside player but not a sure thing. He has a limited football background, but
he could be a very good player if he learns to anchor better. Played tackle in college but
could break in as a guard.
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51. Denver: RB Clinton Portis, Miami (Fla.)
First impression: A crowded backfield gets more crowded at Mile High. And more
talented.
Buchsbaum says: Fits the mold for their type of runner. Runs hard with fury. Good
cut-back runner. Very good quickness with speed. Can catch the ball but is not a great
natural catcher.
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52. Baltimore (from Washington): DT Anthony Weaver, Notre Dame
Trade terms: The Redskins traded this pick and their 96th pick (third round)
to the Ravens in exchange for the 56th pick (second round), 87th
pick (third round) and 159th pick (fifth round).
First impression: The Ravens’ salary-cap depleted roster could use a hustling pass
rusher.
Buchsbaum says: The Ravens were desperate for defensive linemen, and they got a very
good one in Weaver. Some people feel he had first-round value. Relentless type of player
with a great motor.
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53. Oakland (from Tampa Bay): OT Langston Walker, California
First impression: The Raiders have pretty good depth at offensive line, and it helped
them last year. Walker will get a chance to get acclimated to the speed of the game while
learning from veterans.
Buchsbaum says: A guy who has to get tougher, but he has rare size and speed and
ability to go with that size. He will be working behind Lincoln Kennedy, and the Raiders
can use him at guard as well after Steve Wisniewski retired.
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54. Seattle: RB Maurice Morris, Oregon
First impression: Looking for depth behind Shaun Alexander now that Ricky Watters is
gone.
Buchsbaum says: They needed a backup badly. He’s a decent back, but I don’t
think he had second-round value.
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55. Oakland: TE Doug Jolley, Brigham Young
First impression: Looking for a tight end for the future since the Rickey Dudley
experiment failed.
Buchsbaum says: Gives them a receiving tight end who can get down the field. Clutch
receiver with outstanding hands and concentration.
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56. Washington (from Baltimore): RB Ladell Betts, Iowa
First impression: Hard to know what kind of running back fits the Spurrier system in
the pros, but Betts was productive in the Big Ten.
Buchsbaum says: This pick is depth for Stephen Davis, because I don’t think they
have confidence they’ll be able to bring back Ki-Jana Carter. Davis’ contract
becomes significantly larger after this year, so the Redskins will be grooming Betts
behind him.
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57. N.Y. Jets: S Jon McGraw, Kansas State
First impression: The Jets’ secondary took a hit this offseason, so McGraw could
learn on the field.
Buchsbaum says: Big, fast physical player. Very smart and can play either free or
strong safety. All-America boy and very good football player.
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58. Philadelphia: S Michael Lewis, Colorado
First impression: Heart problems may have hurt his chances with other teams. Should
serve as the backup to newcomer Blaine Bishop, who is coming off of a foot injury.
Buchsbaum says: A guy rated about where he went, but a lot of clubs were concerned
about the heart. The Eagles obviously cleared him and didn’t feel it was a problem.
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59. Philadelphia (from Miami): CB Sheldon Brown, South Carolina
First impression: Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent aren’t getting any younger, but
there are other needs that are probably more pressing after going heavy with the secondary
already.
Buchsbaum says: Good cover corner who played much better at the end of the year than he
did early on. The question I have is whether it’s a little overkill as far as taking
corners in the first and second and a safety as well in the second when one of your
strengths was already the secondary.
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60. Seattle (from Green Bay): DE Anton Palepoi, Nevada-Las Vegas
First impression: LB Chad Brown was the Seahawks’ best pass rusher last season, so
they’re hoping to improve on the pressure from the outside.
Buchsbaum says: Edge-type pass rusher with speed and strength, which is what Seattle is
lacking.
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61. Buffalo (from San Francisco): DE Ryan Denney, Brigham Young
First impression: Not a huge priority for San Francisco, but Denney’s quickness
off the ball was apparently too much to ignore.
Buchsbaum says: Real good natural pass-rusher. Very impressive in the Senior Bowl.
Big-effort guy with a tremendous wingspan. Hard to throw over. Simlar to former Broncos
Pro Bowl DE Rulon Jones.
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62. Pittsburgh: WR Antwaan Randle El, Indiana
First impression: The Steelers add to a young, budding group of receivers with the
ultra-versatile Randle El.
Buchsbaum says: Hines Ward type of player. Tremendous college quarterback who is making
the move to wide receiver and punt returner. Will probably be looked upon to replace Bobby
Shaw as the third or fourth receiver.
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63. Dallas (from Chicago): WR Antonio Bryant,
Pittsburgh
Trade terms: The Bears traded this pick and the 129th pick (fourth round) to
the Cowboys in exchange for the 72nd pick (third round), 104th pick (fourth
round) and the 140th pick (fifth round).
First impression: The Cowboys were on the lookout for a big wideout to team with Joey
Galloway and Raghib Ismail, and they had to be feeling good Bryant dropped a bit.
Buchsbaum says: They wanted a big receiver, and Bryant has good size and outstanding
hands and body control. He’s an excellent athlete, but he is a high-maintenance
player who has had off-the-field problems and comes across as being arrogant. He sometimes
carries that attitude onto the field and drops some when he gets nonchalant.
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64. St. Louis: CB Travis Fisher,
Central Florida
First impression: Aeneas Williams is still very good, but is getting up there in age,
so this pick makes sense if they want Fisher to learn behind someone special.
Buchsbaum says: The Rams wanted a cover corner. Has excellent speed and gives them
depth at a position where they were looking for more bodies and youth. Gives them speed on
defense, and that’s what they emphasize.
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65. New England: WR Deion Branch, Louisville
First impression: Improving their WR depth was a concern, and Branch has been
productive despite a lack of height.
Buchsbaum says: Good receiver and returner. Very tough catching over the niddle. Quick
tough and highly competitive. Not the greatest size in the world, but he is a little bit
like Troy Brown in some respects.
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