2004 NFL Mock Draft

This coming weekend, there will be two days where a year's worth of observation, note-taking, decision-making, ranking, scouting, and discussion will come to an end. No, it is not the SATs, but the 2004 NFL Draft. While these drafts are impossible to predict, people do it anyways. No one could have foreseen the Jets trading up to the fourth slot to take Dewayne Robertson, or the Ravens nabbing both Terrell Suggs AND Kyle Boller. But those events happened. The following is simply one attempt at a mock draft, and it's probably going to go ka-plut by the 10th overall choice. But that's what is so great about writing these things to begin with. This first round mock draft will possibly be changing before the draft, so check back to see any changes (be it from trades or acquisitions or statements by the coaches or mind changes or whatever).

1st Overall: San Diego Chargers
Eli Manning, QB, Mississippi
After the famous Ryan Leaf draft where the Chargers missed Peyton Manning by one pick (Ryan Leaf is most likely one of the biggest busts ever in the history of the NFL) and after trading the first overall pick to the Falcons (later used to draft Michael Vick, although the Chargers in return were able to draft premier running back LaDainian Tomlinson), the pressure is on the Chargers to draft a star quarterback correctly. While league sources, according to NFL.com (http://www.nfl.com), indicate that the Chargers are high on QB Phillip Rivers, the Chargers probably will have to go with the relatively sure-fire choice of Eli Manning. After all, Ryan Leaf was supposedly a great, athletic talent, too… The smart choice, in actuality, would probably be OT Robert Gallery, as blockbuster offensive linemen are difficult to come across, especially one who is already being mentioned in the same breath as Tony Boselli. Drafting Gallery is fail-safe, as well, as offensive linemen tend to bring offenses to higher levels, and L.T. has continuously gushed out 1500+ yards with a horrible, horrible offensive line.

2nd Overall: Oakland Raiders
Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa
As the Chargers pass up on Robert Gallery, Oakland is essentially left with no choice. Their once-vaunted offensive line has aged and is now no longer athletic enough to cope with the influx of pass-rushing linemen in the league. No matter who the Raiders use at quarterback, improving protection is key, especially for a team under Al Davis, who wants to throw the long ball. Rumor has it that the Raiders are also interested in QB Ben Roethlisberger's cannon of an arm as well as the speed of WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Roy Williams, but Gallery is simply too solid of a player to slide to the third pick. The Raiders likely will be tempted to trade down to plug more holes in their lineup, but this is Al Davis. He will go with the big name rookies. Usually.

3rd Overall: Arizona Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh
In the 2003 draft, Arizona selected Bryant Johnson in the first round and eventual Rookie-of-the-Year Anquan Boldin in the second round. Why, then, would the Cardinals spend another first rounder in the next year to draft another receiver? The Cardinals site reports Dennis Green to be apparently sold on incumbent Josh McCown's quarterbacking abilities (to the snickers of the league), and Green has had a personal ties to Larry Fitzgerald and his family through the Minnesota Vikings (for which Fitzgerald used to be a ball-boy). For the offensive-minded Green, having three good receivers is a gift he did not have even during his 15-1 season with the 1998 Vikings. With Marcel Shipp manning the run, a solid offensive line led by Leonard Davis, and, if Green's quarterback evaluation holds true again, Josh McCown leading the offense, there may be things to come in this team mired in a dustbowl.

4th Overall: New York Giants
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami (Ohio)
The Giants will attempt to move up in the draft to snag Eli Manning or Robert Gallery, but the top three teams likely will not budge. That leaves the Giants to snag a very nice consolation prize in Ben Roethlisberger. The Giants have Kerry Collins leading the offense for at least one more season but have made it public that they want a quarterback for the future. Enter Ben Roethlisberger, who is being touted as the most athletic but raw in the class. The Giants can afford to have Roethlisberger sit on the bench for at least a season to develop in the hopes of creating another Chad Pennington (the Bengals have done the same with last year's first overall pick, QB Carson Palmer). The Giants will likely also be tempted to draft S Sean Taylor or DT Tommie Harris in order to help shore up their defense, but the league-wide perception that a possible franchise quarterback is of the utmost priority likely will stand here.

5th Overall: Washington Redskins
Sean Taylor, S, Miami (Fla.)
Despite all the talk about possibly drafting DT Tommie Harris or TE Kellen Winslow, the Redskins would be nutcases to pass up on Sean Taylor. Taylor is being heralded as a faster Roy Williams and a bigger Ed Reed, with natural football instincts and great running abilities to boot (in other words, he's a playmaker- a big one). If the league scouts speak true, Taylor likely will absolutely change a defense, just as Roy Williams has done in transforming the Cowboys to the #1 overall defense, and as Ed Reed as done, giving the Baltimore Ravens a dangerous secondary against the pass. Sean Taylor is already being called the Ronnie Lott of the future.

6th Overall: Detroit Lions
Roy Williams, WR, Texas
Maybe Roy Williams should have gone in last year's draft, after all. Williams, by consensus the best receiver last season, decided to stay for his senior year to learn the intangibles- leadership, maturity, and experience. Unfortunately, his draft stock went down in the process. With Texas struggling the past season, Roy Williams' stats dropped, and the emergence of Larry Fitzgerald dropped him from a top three pick to a top ten. Which is not to say Williams himself has gotten worse. In fact, he may be one of the best picks in the draft, albeit slightly forgotten. The Lions desperately need another playmaker- the absence of 2003 second overall pick Charles Roger to an injury damaged them far more than it should have.

7th Overall: Cleveland Browns
Kellen Winslow Jr., TE, Miami (Fla.)
Athletic, game-breaking Tight Ends are becoming a fad in the NFL, with Shannon Sharpe, Tony Gonzalez, Todd Heap, and Jeremy Shockey all changing how a defense must run and adding new dimensions to offenses. The Browns would actually love to draft an offensive lineman up here, but their pick is unfortunately too high. There is a high chance they will trade away this pick to a team that wants Winslow Jr. badly. If such a deal does not pull through, the Browns will draft the best player on the board.

8th Overall: Atlanta Falcons
Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma
Tommie Harris is being likened to Warren Sapp in his prime, being a quick tackle who can attack the quarterback and stuff the run. Premier defensive tackles are slowly becoming a rarity in this league, and high picks of defensive tackles are like asking for busts (Dewayne Robertson for the Jets last year), but teams have to keep trying. The Falcons, returning to the 4-3 defense after a failed 3-4 experiment, need help with their struggling defense.

9th Overall: Jacksonville Jaguars
Kenechi Udeze, DE, USC
Jack Del Rio wants pass rush. From the moment he stepped into the Jaguars' office, pass rushing became a priority. The signing of Hugh Douglas last year did not provide dividends, and Del Rio is probably salivating at the chance of drafting a premier pass rushing specialist like Kenechi Udeze.

10th Overall: Houston Texans
DeAngelo Hall, CB, Virginia Tech
The Texans need help in their secondary, and will have to draft DeAngelo Hall a bit high to get that help. The secondary in this year's draft is not as deep as it was last year, but the Texans need the help this year- their secondary is aging. Hall is fast, a rumored 4.15 fast. Hall could potentially become a Darrell Green, but will have to learn to play the run and make more tackles before that happens. The potential is there- it is up to Coach Dom Capers to bring that out.

11th Overall: Pittsburgh Steelers
Phillip Rivers, QB, N.C. State
Like the Chargers, the Steelers have made no secret their desire to draft Rivers. The Steelers, though, have the optimal pick to do so. Tommy Maddox was a feel-good story in 2003, but he flopped in 2004- along with the rest of the team. While it's unfair to say Tommy Maddox was a one-year wonder, the fact remains that he is old. With maybe two years left in his tank, the Steelers need a quarterback of the future, and that quarterback will be Phillip Rivers.

12th Overall: New York Jets
Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State
A forgotten fact is the Jets failure to run last season. The Jets managed 100 rushing yards in their first three games COMBINED. League personnel repeatedly commented that RB Curtis Martin did not look the same after an injury plagued 2003 season. While C-Mart likely has at least another year left, LaMont Jordan showed that he cannot be relied upon anywhere other than in goal line situations. The Jets will draft Steven Jackson, both for the future and for backup, just in case.

13th Overall: Buffalo Bills
Will Smith, DE, Ohio State
The Bills fired Head Coach Gregg Williams but will try to continue to defensive success they found by drafting Will Smith, a pass rushing specialist. Smith cannot play the run as well as Udeze but finds ways to get to the quarterback, giving the Bills secondary chances to make plays.

14th Overall: Chicago Bears
Vince Wolfolk, DT, Miami (Fla.)
The Bears defense is supposedly spear-headed by Brian Urlacher, but Urlacher cannot do anything if he is blocked by the offensive linemen, as evidenced by his 2004 struggles. The Bears desperately need defensive linemen to at least clog up the offensive linemen so Urlacher can do is job. Vince Wolfolk and his 350 pound frame will do just that and more, being able to play the run. Wolfolk is being likened to Ted Washington, one of the best run-stopping tackles in the league.

15th Overall: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Igor Olshansky, DT, Oregon
Perhaps not the biggest of news during the off-season was Warren Sapp's relatively quiet departure from Tampa Bay. While Sapp is not the player he once was, he still leaves quiet a gaping hole at the position. The Bucs will be intrigued by Olshansky's size and strength- he made a rookie-leading 43 bench presses- and will use their first round choice to draft the Ukrainian with a soaring stock.

16th Overall: San Francisco 49ers
Shawn Andrews, OT, Arkansas
It's no secret: the 49ers need an offensive line. Jeff Garcia was banged up all season, and with the Niners handing the reigns to Tim Rattay, who is likely less tough than Garcia, protection will be doubly important. Denis Erickson's game plan supposedly works around launching deep, but with no protection, his quarterbacks only had time to throw short.

17th Overall: Denver Broncos
Ben Troupe, TE, Florida
The Broncos need a successor to Shannon Sharpe, although he has decided to play this year. Ben Troupe is an underrated tight end out of Florida, who scouts believe may match Kellen Winslow Jr. in the future, if not now, with his effort and work ethics. Troupe may be a better blocker than Winslow, although not as athletic.

18th Overall: New Orleans Saints
Dunta Robinson, CB, South Carolina
Robertson falls this far because despite his speed, he is extremely undersized and probably would not be able to contend with the likes of Randy Moss. The Saints passed up on Marcus Trufant last season and paid for it heavily as their secondary got torn apart yet again. They will not, cannot pass up on a cornerback for a third year, and Gamble probably is the best of the bunch remaining.

19th Overall: Minnesota Vikings
Vernon Carey, OG, Miami (Fla.)
Vernon Carey has connections to the Vikings through former teammate Bryant McKinney. Vikings Coach Mike Tice is apparently very interested in drafting Carey to help shore up one of the up-and-coming lines in the NFL. Carey will likely make an immediate impact as an intelligent interior lineman.

20th Overall: Miami Dolphins
Will Poole, CB, USC
The Dolphins secondary is not getting any younger- Sam Madison is showing some slight signs of age. However what hurts the Dolphins most is their trading of Jamar Fletcher to the Chargers for David Boston. On the offensive side of the ball, that trade is brilliant. However, Fletcher is an underrated cornerback who has shown an incredible ability to make plays happen, and was their unanimous nickel back. The Dolphins have a big void to fill there now, and will use their pick on Will Poole to solidify their nick back position.

21st Overall: New England Patriots
Reggie Williams, WR, Washington
One of the few remaining holes the Patriots have is at the receiver position. Tom Brady has done a magnificent job with the tools he has before him, but among Deion Branch, David Givens, and Troy Brown, there is one sure-fire starter, one mediocre receiver, and one great receiver who has aged too much. In that order. The Patriots will draft Williams to move Givens out and give Tom Brady another weapon in his arsenal.

22nd Overall: Dallas Cowboys
Kevin Jones, RB, Virginia Tech
Bill Parcells will be breathing a sigh of relief now that the Patriots traded for Corey Dillon and erased an emergency need for a runner. Kevin Jones falls past the Patriots' first pick into the hands of the Cowboys, who get a fine premier back with great speed.

23rd Overall: Seattle Seahawks
Marcus Tubbs, DT, Texas
The Seahawks will draft Tubbs to help a run-defense that made leaps last year, but could improve. Their pass defense is solidifying, especially with the addition of Marcus Trufant last year, but their run defense remains their Achilles heel.

24th Overall: Cincinnati Bengals
Darnell Dockett, DT, Florida State
The Bengals under Marvin Lewis will focus on defense this year and will shore up their defense with a run defensive tackle to combat the running games of their division. While they have made numerous free agent signings over the past two years to revamp their defense, the Bengals will have to cultivate their own defensive linemen for the future.

25th Overall: Green Bay Packers
JP Losman, QB, Tulane
The Packers want a successor to Favre and have been reportedly high on the gunslinger from Tulane. Losman has been likened to Favre his whole college career and by NFL scouts, and what better for Losman than to be mentored by the man he is compared to?

26th Overall: St. Louis Rams
Ben Watson, TE, Georgia
The Rams felt a gaping hole in their lineup when Ernie Conwell left for the Saints. They tried to fill the void with Cam Cleeland, but that attempted relatively failed. Martz will make a strong push to draft a TE, and since Ben Troupe slipped away far before them, they will use their first rounder to make a high pick for Ben Watson. Watson is a physical tight end who can make the run to go deep in a passing pattern- a tougher Ernie Conwell, if you will.

27th Overall: Tennessee Titans
Jonathan Vilma, ILM, Miami (Fla.)
The Titans released Randall Godfrey last year and have been struggling to replace that position. While Robaire Smith and The Freak did leave in this offseason, the Titans do have the ability to somewhat offset the loss in the pass rush, just as they did during their 2003 run to the AFC Championship. Vilma is undersized but has a nose for the ball and football smarts. He may be able to help the Titans alleviate some of the sting of losing their line.

28th Overall: Philadelphia Eagles
Michael Clayton, WR, LSU
The Eagles managed to steal T.O. from the Ravens, but they would preferably have two receivers rather than one. Michael Clayton is fast and tough, making him a great playmaker down the center- words unfortunately similar to the Eagles first-round disappointment Freddie Mitchell.

29th Overall: Indianapolis Colts
Julius Jones, RB, Notre Dame
The Colts have a high chance of losing Edgerrin James next year due to obvious salary cap difficulties, and consequently will take Thomas Jones' brother with their draft choice. Jones is predicted to be a great runner, possibly a career 1,300-yard runner. Not bad.

30th Overall: Kansas City Chiefs
DJ Williams, OLB, Miami (Fla.)
The Chiefs will be pleased to see DJ Williams this far down. The line backers are not very deep in this class either, but the Chiefs will draft DJ Williams to help the run defense that knocked them out of the fight for the Vince Lombardi.

31st Overall: Carolina Panthers
Chris Gamble, CB, Ohio State
The Panthers will look to their own region to draft a cornerback to help their secondary, what has been called the weakness of this team. Their defensive line has generally been able to compensate for the holes, but as evidenced by the Super Bowl, if their defensive line fails, their secondary fails. Chris Gamble is the tallest top cornerback in the draft, and while he did not tear up the tracks at his workout, he still has the potential that the Panthers will try to harness

32nd Overall: New England Patriots
Derrick Strait, CB, Oklahoma
With Ty Law likely leaving the team in the near future, the Patriots will draft Derrick Strait, if only to provide a backup plan in the case that Ty Law does indeed stay.