Monday, July 15, 2002

Top No. 1 picks to click

Saints' Stallworth is early choice as league's top rookie this coming season

By Dan Arkush, Executive editor

Which No. 1 picks will have the most positive effects on their respecitve teams? What follows is a breakdown of my five top candidates for Rookie of the Year honors:

WR Donté Stallworth (Saints) — While I've received mostly scattered positive reports on the majority of first-rounders' performances this offseason, there isn't a single soul I've talked to who hasn't gone out of his way to sing the praises of Stallworth, the 13th overall selection of the 2002 draft. With his rare combination of speed, size and explosiveness, he has been likened to a cross between a young Joey Galloway and Michael Irvin. In the Saints' minicamps, I was told that Stallworth was a guy who raised eyebrows on every play in which he was involved. Not only can he run like the wind and separate from his coverage like nobody's business, he's got hands like Fred Biletnikoff — without any need for stickum. The Saints plan to frequently employ three-WR sets featuring Stallworth, productive holdover Joe Horn and fleet-footed free-agent addition Jerome Pathon. If they all stay healthy along with 2001 first-round pick Deuce McAllister, the Saints just might march back into the playoffs after all.

DT Keith Sims (Chiefs) — While Julius Peppers, Sims' teammate at North Carolina, has received a lot more fanfare because of his tremendous physical tools, there are a lot of people who will tell you that Sims is a much better football player and is more likely to be instantly productive as a starter. That's certainly the opinion of K.C. head coach Dick Vermeil, who traded his first- and third-round picks to Dallas in order to jump ahead of the Vikings to select Sims with the sixth overall pick in the draft. While Peppers has a flair for the spectacular, Sims is simply solid as a rock, play after play. He also has an outstanding work ethic, and he has wasted no time whatsoever earning the Chiefs' starting DLT berth. The Chiefs, who finished so strongly last season, are my top pick as the league's most improved team, and their selection of Sims in the first round is one of the major reasons.

SS Roy Williams (Chiefs) — Take it from PFW's crack personnel expert, Joel Buchsbaum, who believes Williams, after enjoying one of the all-time great college careers at Oklahoma, and veteran Darren Woodson could be the best safety tandem in the league — even better than former Pokes Cliff Harris and Charlie Waters in their prime. As is the case with the Saints' Stallworth, Williams receives an "A" grade in terms of watchability. With his great instincts and reactions, he can be expected to be an impact defender right away for the Cowboys, especially since he'll be learning the nuances of his trade from Woodson, one of the game's all-time great safeties.

RB William Green (Browns) — Green is a guy who has come on real strong after a shaky Combine and early problems in the Browns' minicamps. The fact he took a lot of observers' initial criticism of his efforts to heart — and has worked overtime with the Browns' strength coach to tone up his powerful body for what is expected to be a hefty workload — speaks volumes. Head coach Butch Davis is intent on creating a power running attack patterned after those in Pittsburgh and Tennessee, and he has full confidence that Green can get the job done and live up to the likes of Jerome Bettis and Eddie George. Mark him down for a 1,000-yard campaign right now.

OLB Robert Thomas (Rams) — The rich get richer. At least that's the way it seems, when you consider that Thomas, the draft's 31st overall selection, has already been installed as the starter at weak-side linebacker, the featured playmaking position in Lovie Smith's swarming defensive scheme. Thomas is replacing second-year pro Tommy Polley on the weak side, and that's saying something, since Polley, who will be moved to the strong side, was playing brilliantly on the weak side for significant stretches in his rookie campaign. The Rams love Thomas' raw speed, and Smith apparently genuinely believe he's another Derrick Brooks in the making. He certainly ought to know.

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