First of all, despite all the perfunctory curve balls being thrown by teams before the draft, my prediction of the first five picks are as follows:
1. Bengals: QB Carson Palmer, USC. Too good to pass up. The logical choice.
2. Lions: WR Charles Rogers, Michigan St. Despite the recent red herrings, Rogers is and always has been their pick.
3. Texans: WR Andre Johnson, Miami. Heads the list of Jeff Golin's All-Johnson team. Big play WR for David Carr. Made to order.
4. Bears: DT Dewayne Robertson, Kentucky. Da Bears need to keep da players off Urlacher and dis guy will do so and provide an interior pass rush.
5. Cowboys: CB Terence Newman, Kansas St. Jerry tries desperately to talk the Tuna into drafting Leftwich. The Tuna has a two to three year window in Dallas and knows he must defend Spurrier and McNabb to win the division. Hence, he selects the best cover corner in the draft in high need area.
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Here come the Cardinals. The new Cardinals. The old Cardinals drafted strictly for need and get burned. These new Cardinals draft for VALUE...with an eye on the future, not the immediate.
First two trades to report: (1) The Cardinals stay put at #6, but they trade the #37 pick early in the second round to the New England Patriots for the #50 (2nd) and #75 (3rd) picks; (2) The Cardinals trade Thomas Jones to the Kansas City Chiefs for the #150 (5th) pick in the draft.
#1-6 QB Byron Leftwich, Marshall. A unique player and a unique opportunity. Ultimate value. Has Pro-Bowl talent and leadership skills. Questions as to whether Suggs can be an every down 4-3 DE, whether Kennedy could significantly improve the pass rush or what position tweener Kevin Williams should play in the NFL, make this selection all the easier to make.
#2-50 DE/OLB Antwan Peek, Cincinnati. A Roosevelt Colvin clone. Same size, speed and rushing ability. Has same size (6-3, 250) as Suggs, only clocks in the 4.57 range.
#3-70 DE/DT Antonio Garay, Boston College. A first round talent with Vonnie Holliday-type ability. Injuries have hurt his stock. But, his injuries have not been major or career threatening and he's 100% ready for mini-camps.
#3-75 WR Sam Aiken, North Carolina. Big, possession receiver who is faster than scouts give him credit for. Looks in his strides a lot like Michael Irvin. Emmitt will take notice.
#4-102 CB Ivan Taylor, Louisiana-Lafeyette. Tall corner with blazing 4.3 speed who will factor in as a gunner on punt returns and possible punt returner while learning the CB trade.
#5-141 DE Jimmy Wilkerson, Oklahoma. Came out a year too early. Is still raw, but has Corey Redding type ability. Long, strong and aggressive.
#5-150 DT Colin Cole, Iowa. Tough, durable and dependable inside player. A tad short, but vastly under-rated.
#6-177 WR Nate Burleson, Nevada. Super productive player. Has knack for getting open and making defenders miss in the open field.
#6-210 S Donnie Nickey, Ohio St. Aggressive safety. Hard hitter who will contribute immediately on special teams.
#7-220 MLB/FB Vinnie Ciurciu, Boston College. Rugged and fast. Ideal special teamer. Former Clemson FB who became BC's MLB and was very productive in the middle.
1. Bengals: QB Carson Palmer, USC. Too good to pass up. The logical choice.
2. Lions: WR Charles Rogers, Michigan St. Despite the recent red herrings, Rogers is and always has been their pick.
3. Texans: WR Andre Johnson, Miami. Heads the list of Jeff Golin's All-Johnson team. Big play WR for David Carr. Made to order.
4. Bears: DT Dewayne Robertson, Kentucky. Da Bears need to keep da players off Urlacher and dis guy will do so and provide an interior pass rush.
5. Cowboys: CB Terence Newman, Kansas St. Jerry tries desperately to talk the Tuna into drafting Leftwich. The Tuna has a two to three year window in Dallas and knows he must defend Spurrier and McNabb to win the division. Hence, he selects the best cover corner in the draft in high need area.
__________________________________________________
Here come the Cardinals. The new Cardinals. The old Cardinals drafted strictly for need and get burned. These new Cardinals draft for VALUE...with an eye on the future, not the immediate.
First two trades to report: (1) The Cardinals stay put at #6, but they trade the #37 pick early in the second round to the New England Patriots for the #50 (2nd) and #75 (3rd) picks; (2) The Cardinals trade Thomas Jones to the Kansas City Chiefs for the #150 (5th) pick in the draft.
#1-6 QB Byron Leftwich, Marshall. A unique player and a unique opportunity. Ultimate value. Has Pro-Bowl talent and leadership skills. Questions as to whether Suggs can be an every down 4-3 DE, whether Kennedy could significantly improve the pass rush or what position tweener Kevin Williams should play in the NFL, make this selection all the easier to make.
#2-50 DE/OLB Antwan Peek, Cincinnati. A Roosevelt Colvin clone. Same size, speed and rushing ability. Has same size (6-3, 250) as Suggs, only clocks in the 4.57 range.
#3-70 DE/DT Antonio Garay, Boston College. A first round talent with Vonnie Holliday-type ability. Injuries have hurt his stock. But, his injuries have not been major or career threatening and he's 100% ready for mini-camps.
#3-75 WR Sam Aiken, North Carolina. Big, possession receiver who is faster than scouts give him credit for. Looks in his strides a lot like Michael Irvin. Emmitt will take notice.
#4-102 CB Ivan Taylor, Louisiana-Lafeyette. Tall corner with blazing 4.3 speed who will factor in as a gunner on punt returns and possible punt returner while learning the CB trade.
#5-141 DE Jimmy Wilkerson, Oklahoma. Came out a year too early. Is still raw, but has Corey Redding type ability. Long, strong and aggressive.
#5-150 DT Colin Cole, Iowa. Tough, durable and dependable inside player. A tad short, but vastly under-rated.
#6-177 WR Nate Burleson, Nevada. Super productive player. Has knack for getting open and making defenders miss in the open field.
#6-210 S Donnie Nickey, Ohio St. Aggressive safety. Hard hitter who will contribute immediately on special teams.
#7-220 MLB/FB Vinnie Ciurciu, Boston College. Rugged and fast. Ideal special teamer. Former Clemson FB who became BC's MLB and was very productive in the middle.