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2002 NFL Draft Day coverage

Pulse of the draft, pick by pick

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Impressions of the fourth round

The Bears’ selection of Alex Brown with the 104^th pick highlights the start of this round. The Bears’ one pressing need on defense last season was a consistent pass rush, and although Brown has developed a reputation for taking plays off and is just a shade over 250 pounds, he brings a dynamic first step off the edge and could be used immediately in passing situations.

A total of three kickers and punters were selected in the fourth round, which obviously comes as quite a surprise. The 49ers chose PK Jeff Chandler, PFW’s second-rated kicker, with the fourth pick in the round (No. 102) to start the run. The Bengals, who have been anything but sold on Neil Rackers, secured some competition for him when they grabbed Purdue PK Travis Dorsch, rated by PFW as the top kicker available, with the 112^th pick. Ohio P Dave Zastudil, a 6-3, 222-pounder, rounded out the group when he became a Raven three picks later.

A whopping total of 10 tight ends have now been taken through the first four rounds, as Oregon’s Justin Peelle (San Diego at 103), Georgia’s Randy McMichael (Miami at 114), Virginia’s Chris Luzar (Jacksonville at 118) and Ohio State’s Darnell Sanders (Cleveland at 122) became property of the NFL.

Jon Gruden and the Buccaneers secured a real workhorse with former Tennessee RB Travis Stephens. Gruden likes having a power running game, and the smallish Stephens doesn’t exactly fit the profile of a big bruiser, but he did show plenty of patience in waiting for his turn in Knoxville and proved he could carry the load with 291 carries his senior season.

Two big and talented quarterbacks, East Carolina’s David Garrard and LSU’s Rohan Davey were chosen right where they figured to go. The Patriots moved up from the bottom of the round to select Davey (No. 117), which could signal a trade involving Drew Bledsoe to Buffalo is imminent. Both quarterbacks weigh in at better than 240 pounds, and although both only run the 40-yard dash in the 4.8 range, they are awfully impressive when they get out of the pocket and can hurt you in many ways. Both Garrard and Davey are still a bit raw and could use some fine-tuning, but the potential for excitement is there if they can learn from Mark Brunell and Tom Brady, respectively.

Nebraska’s Keyuo Craver, who was tied as PFW’s four-rated cornerback, slipped all the way to the 125^th pick with New Orleans. Craver was considered a much better prospect earlier in his career, when he played much quicker and gave up fewer big plays. The Saints had a need at cornerback despite recently spending big money on Dale Carter and couldn’t pass on Craver, who also brings some return skills to the mix.

RB Jonathan Wells out of Ohio State slipped further than expected but will join new teammates David Carr and Jabar Gaffney to form a young offensive talent pool in Houston. Wells is a big, physical north-south runner who can punish defenders.

The Titans continued to get defensive in this draft. Tennessee’s defense has been exposed recently through injury and free agency, so they made it their focus to get better and deeper on that side of the ball. Joining DT Albert Haynesworth, S Tank Williams and LB Rocky Calmus with the Titans are fourth-rounders Tony Beckham, a cornerback out of Wisconsin-Stout, and Rocky Boiman, a linebacker from Notre Dame.

Terms of fourth-round trades:

Houston traded the 116^th pick to Atlanta in exchange for the Falcons’ third-round pick in 2003.

The Broncos dealt the 117^th pick to New England. As part of the deal, the two teams exchanged fourth-round picks, with the Broncos receiving the 131^st pick and the Patriots’ fifth-rounder, the 144^th overall.

The Browns obtained the 122^nd pick from Oakland in exchange for the 147^th pick (fifth round) and 189^th pick (sixth round).

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