2002 NFL draft
Buchsbaum's (early) mock draft
By Joel Buchsbaum, Contributing editor
As published in print Feb. 6, 2002
Updated Feb. 22, 2002
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Fresno State QB
David Carr
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Right now, there is no clear-cut first choice, but QB David Carr appears to be a slight
front-runner over DE Julius Peppers and OT Bryant McKinnie.
While some people rate QB Joey Harrington ahead of Carr and possibly the No. 1 pick in
the entire draft, others feel he is more of a later first-round selection.
Peppers has the most upside of any player in the draft and could eventually have the
impact of a Lawrence Taylor. But he is a work in progress who still has not shown the type
of ferocity and football instincts scouts look for in an upper-echelon player.
First round
| 1. |
Houston Texans
QB David Carr / Fresno State
Great arm and a great kid who is very productive. He has a very quick, semi-sidearm
delivery, which is a little bit quirky and causes him to release the ball much lower than
scouts would like. That could lead to problems with batted-down passes since teams use so
many three- and five-step drops these days. His mobility is slightly above average but not
exceptional. |
| 2. |
Carolina Panthers
DE Julius Peppers / North Carolina
Best and most gifted athlete in the draft. Tremendous upside if he’s got the heart,
passion and tenacity to be a great one. |
| 3. |
Detroit Lions
CB Quentin Jammer / Texas
The Lions’ secondary was an absolute disaster area this past season, in large part
because of injuries. Because they can’t count on all the walking wounded to return,
they will look to the secondary first after deciding Joey Harrington is not worth such an
early first-round pick. |
| 4. |
Buffalo Bills
OT Bryant McKinnie / Miami (Fla.)
The Bills are looking for a replacement for OLT John Fina and the quarterback. If they
feel Mike Williams of Texas can play the left side, they might go in his direction. They
also could go for Harrington, but many people feel this is too early to take him despite
his terrific intangibles. |
| 5. |
San Diego Chargers
OT Mike Williams / Texas
The Chargers’ weakest area is the offensive line. |
| 6. |
Dallas Cowboys
DT John Henderson / Tennessee
The Cowboys need a big, physical inside defensive lineman in the Leon Lett mold, and while
Henderson may not be Lett, he could end up being another John Hand, or perhaps better than
that. |
| 7. |
Minnesota Vikings
DE-OLB Kalimba Edwards / South Carolina
The Vikings see him as another Chris Doleman. |
| 8. |
Kansas City Chiefs
DT Ryan Sims / North Carolina
Sims was the most impressive defensive player at the Senior Bowl. He plays with great
intensity and is a 300-pounder with tremendous power. |
| 9. |
Jacksonville Jaguars
RB William Green / Boston College
The Jagaurs can’t count on Fred Taylor to stay healthy anymore, and Green has the
best combination of size and speed of any back in the draft. |
| 10. |
Cincinnati Bengals
CB Phillip Buchanon / Miami (Fla.)
Buchanon could be the best pure athlete in the draft. He’s an outstanding cover
corner who also excels as a return man. Buchanon was the Big East special-teams player of
the year in 2001, and with apologies to Ed Reed, Buchanon may have been the best player in
the Hurricanes’ secondary as well. |
| 11. |
Indianapolis Colts
S Roy Williams / Oklahoma
Tony Dungy views him as a faster, more athletic John Lynch. |
| 12. |
Arizona Cardinals
DT Wendell Bryant / Wisconsin
The Cardinals are hurting for defense, and when you need help everywhere, the best place
to start is up front. |
| 13. |
New Orleans Saints
WR Donté Stallworth / Tennessee
It appears as if Stallworth will be in the draft now. He is big and fast, catches the ball
well and can jump out of the building. He will make Aaron Brooks a very happy camper. |
| 14. |
New York Giants (subject to coin flip with Titans)
TE Daniel Graham / Colorado
After watching Graham at the Senior Bowl, it’s clear that he is the most complete
tight end in the draft, and that is a position in which every player the Giants have is
one-dimensional. |
| 15. |
Tennessee Titans (subject to coin flip with Giants)
OG Toniu Fonoti / Nebraska
The Titans need a replacement for Bruce Matthews, and Fonoti is the type of run blocker
who can make Eddie George a happy man. |
| 16. |
Atlanta Falcons (subject to coin flip with Browns)
RB T.J. Duckett / Michigan State
The Falcons will need a big-time runner, unless Jamal Anderson can come all the way back,
which is doubtful. |
| 17. |
Cleveland Browns (subject to coin flip with Falcons)
OG-C Andre Gurode / Colorado
Butch Davis wants big, strong power blockers who can knock people off the line of
scrimmage, and Gurode fits the mold. |
| 18. |
Washington Redskins
QB Joey Harrington / Oregon
Harrington is the wild-card entry in this draft, and his value is being disputed
leaguewide. Some people put him right up there with David Carr, perhaps even above Carr,
while other people believe Harrington is a questionable first-round pick. Although he has
had his moments throwing the ball, Harrington does not appear to have exceptional arm
strength and can be inconsistent throwing at times. Obviously, his intangibles are very
good, but he is not especially mobile. |
| 19. |
Denver Broncos
S Ed Reed / Miami (Fla.)
The Broncos have not received satisfactory play from their safeties for years now. |
| 20. |
Seattle Seahawks
TE Jeremy Shockey / Miami (Fla.)
Shockey is the type of tight end you want in a West Coast offense. He’s not going to
be an overpowering blocker, but he can be a very good receiver because he’s big and
mobile and runs routes like a wide receiver. |
| 21. |
Oakland Raiders (from Tampa Bay)
WR Jabar Gaffney / Florida
Jerry Rice and Tim Brown aren't kids anymore. |
| 22. |
New York Jets
DT Albert Haynesworth / Tennessee
The Jets need more size, quickness and athleticism inside on defense. |
| 23. |
Oakland Raiders
OLB Napoleon Harris / Northwestern
The Raiders’ weakest position is probably outside linebacker. |
| 24. |
Baltimore Ravens
OL Kendell Simmons / Auburn
May be able to play tackle but definitely can play guard, and the Ravens really need help
on the offensive line. Terrific football player who has a terrific attitude. |
| 25. |
Miami Dolphins
RB DeShaun Foster / UCLA
The Dolphins have been looking for a big-time runner for years, and Foster could be their
answer. |
| 26. |
Philadelphia Eagles
DL Anthony Weaver / Notre Dame
Weaver can play either tackle or end, and the Eagles are a little thin at both positions.
They do not have any pressing needs other than wideout, and they are still hoping their
young receivers will step up now that they’ve had a little experience in the system. |
| 27. |
San Francisco 49ers
OT Levi Jones / Arizona State
The 49ers’ offensive line is starting to get old and creaky, and Jones is the type of
player who can play left tackle at the next level and any other position on the line
except center. |
| 28. |
Green Bay Packers
WR Josh Reed / Louisiana State
Brett Favre finally gets the type of sure-handed target with great run-after-the-catch
ability that he really needs. Reed could be another Sterling Sharpe in the Packers’
offensive scheme. |
| 29. |
Chicago Bears
DE Dwight Freeney / Syracuse
The Bears could use a big-time edge rusher to go with their other players on defense. |
| 30. |
Pittsburgh Steelers
CB Keyuo Craver / Nebraska
Craver lasts this long because he had some lapses in coverage and gave up quite a few big
plays, but he’s got tremendous athletic ability and upside as a corner. |
| 31. |
St. Louis Rams
CB Derek Ross / Ohio State
Has the size and speed to be a big-time corner in the NFL, and Aeneas Williams is not
getting any younger, though he played as though he had found the fountain of youth this
season. |
| 32. |
New England Patriots
WR Ashley Lelie / Hawaii
Lelie has the size and speed the Patriots lack at wide receiver, but he is a work in
progress who could have used another year in school to polish his route-running and
improve his strength. However, when a team is picking 32nd, it can’t always get a
ready-for-prime-time player. The Patriots have shown they will be patient with players and
do a great job of teaching them. |
Also see: NFL draft order
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