Hope Springs Eternal: the 2004 NFL Draft

[Woolen Horde]

Eli goes #1, and the boos rain down. Man, I don't know if anyone in this sordid affair has clean hands, but I feel bad for the kid. Supposed to be the greatest moment in his life, and he's the most hated man in America suddenly. (And it didn't help that Pat Tillman's extraordinary sacrifice was recognized right before the Charger's picked. Talk about a contrast of values.) Of course, the millions will be a comfort, but the karma is bad for young Eli.

Anybody else?

[Jobe]

I'd have been booing along with everyone else. Hearing the guys on TV describe the "really classy move" Eli made to actually shake hands after he spit on their organization? That's unbelievably clueless.

With Eli, his dissent must mean "problems within the administration", with a different player with a different father, it'd be "he thinks he's above the game".

Yeah, in the wake of Tillman's death, it brings into even sharper relief how pathetic Manning is.

That said, now it's time to see if the 'Skins pick Taylor or Winslow. I'd like to watch Winslow the player, but I can't stand his behavior (and once again, all of the praise he gets that he doesn't deserve because of who his father is), and all of the people who know more than me about it would rather see them pick Taylor.

[Woolen Horde]

Crap. The Giants just got ripped off, and all the fans in New York are mad.

Eli for Philip Rivers, and the Giants give up their third-round pick this year, and their first and third round picks next year.

The difference between Manning and Rivers isn't worth that much, IMO.

[Jobe]

Agreed that they got ripped off, but yet, just being New York got them their guy even though they didn't have the top pick. I think the Chargers would rather have kept Manning.

It's surprising that there's a team who basically had to deal a player, yet they still came out really well in that deal.

I would have taken that trade straight-up even if Eli was happy to be a Charger.

[Ben]

God I hate Butch Davis.

[Major Malphunktion]

Happy with my Pats picks so far.
Monster in the middle, monster on the end...now Seymour,Warren and two 300+ pounder Rookies to play the line in a 3-4. Well done.
A bit confused by the TE pick, but in Belicheck we trust. this might be an insurance pick if D.Graham still can't catch a ball. He is a great blocker, but not an impact TE like we are used to in NE after watching Ben Coates for so many years. Man I miss Coates.
Cory Dillon for a 2nd rounder- awesome.Just do go beating up your lady friends in NE Cory, they will cut you instantly for shit like that up here.

now who do you key on if you play the Pats? Brady and the WR's who already did enough to make the SB twice...or Dillon, who if you don't respect is going to eat up the yards?

The D is now instantly better, with a (at least statistically) a very fast D line with size, and an oppertunistic LB core. We won't talk about the DB's yet, but if Law is still here all aspects of the D are very solid.

I'm pleased that not LB was picked in the 1st. Basicly means that Colvin will play this year. I think they will pick one or two in the later rounds ...a middle LB at least. Bruschi is not getting any younger.

[Robert Sharp]

I'm overall satisfied with the Titans's draft so far. I was really wanting Troupe and to get him while trading down so far and stockpiling pics was great. Thanks to the Pats for taking another TE who MIGHT pan out, IF he realizes his potential. I'm a little concerned with the picks of Odom and Starks. Odom could be incredible, but has never been as good as he should be. Starks has talent, but didn't work out well and has some inconsistencies. Still, I think with those two and Laboy, we should get the DLine help that we need. Plus, we still have 8 or 9 picks left tomorrow! I feel like a Patriots fan with all these picks!

[Anders Hallin]

Well, the Falcons got a CB and a WR, which they needed. We'll see if that and a healthy Vick is enough to push them into contention.

[Arasmus]

Very happy with the SKins picking up Sean Taylor and and TE Chris Cooley.

[The Man in Blak]

Definitely was an interesting draft for a bunch of teams.

1) Amidst all of the hoopla over Eli Manning, I think a lot of people (and teams, apparently) missed Pittsburgh getting a huge steal at 11 with Ben Roethlisberger. I am absolutely stunned that Cleveland didn't consider this kid.

2) How in the world did Steven Jackson drop to the Rams' slot at 24?

3) How about the Detroit Lions? In the first two rounds, they got a top-flight wide receiver, a woefully-underrated feature back, and a fairly decent linebacker from Oklahoma with their second-rounder. With this draft, plus Woody and Bryant, Matt Millen almost looks like a competent executive.

4) Larry Fitzgerald, Boldin, and Gilmore are going to give secondaries fits in two years (once Fitzgerald becomes acclimated to the pro game).

5) The Vikings not only made their pick on time, but they actually made a decent selection with Udeze at 20, who probably has the talent to be a top 10 pick.

All in all, we should be looking at an interesting NFL season, with many of the lower-tier teams addressing some immediate needs.

[Brad Grenz]

2) How in the world did Steven Jackson drop to the Rams' slot at 24?

Yeah, I still can't believe Dallas didn't take him when they had a chance. Are they going to trade him away, or are they looking to groom a successor to Faulk?

[Woolen Horde]

Interested in seeing Jacksonville next season, mainly cause they got Reggie, and Reggie is God if you're a UW alum. It's kind of amusing to see how all the experts call him "slow." He was the state sprinting champ, and he's so big (6'4") that when you watch tape of him, his long, graceful stride looks slow, but pay attention and all the defensive players are falling behind him.

Sad to see Cody Pickett drop to the seventh round. If he had come out last year, after he blew away the Pac-10 single-season passing record, he would easily have been a 1st or 2nd rounder. But he had an injury-plagued senior season, and the fact that he had no O-line or running back help killed him. Oh well, first-round QB's tend to be busts more often than not; hopefully he can recover. Good, tough kid.

Miami only got one whole pick throughout the entire draft? And the 'Skins only got two? Seriously, I just don't understand why it is some teams feel the need that they have to gut future drafts just to trade up and take a huge gamble on one player. There's plenty of talent every year; the Patriots are laughing to the Super Bowl while teams like Cleveland and Cincy keep pinning their hopes on a kid who often can't handle the pressure or the expectations.

[VegasRobb]

Was a little disappointed to see Jackson slide so far. We both played football at the same high school, so it's been fun to follow his career. No idea what's gonna happen with him and Marshall Faulk, but Marshall hasn't played a full season since 1999.

[The Man in Blak]

2) How in the world did Steven Jackson drop to the Rams' slot at 24?

Yeah, I still can't believe Dallas didn't take him when they had a chance. Are they going to trade him away, or are they looking to groom a successor to Faulk?

I think that's the general plan, since Faulk isn't getting any younger or healthier (as VegasRobb mentioned above).

Though, now that I think about it, it is kind of an odd pick, since they have two perfectly decent backs behind Faulk in Arlen Harris and Lamar Gordon. I guess Kiper would call it a "great value pick."

[Mark Asher]

2) How in the world did Steven Jackson drop to the Rams' slot at 24?

Yeah, I still can't believe Dallas didn't take him when they had a chance. Are they going to trade him away, or are they looking to groom a successor to Faulk?

Faulk's 31 and has only started 21 games over the last two seasons. Best case scenario is that he might have two good years left. RBs just don't last far into their 30's. (I thought one of the more curious moves in the off-season was Tampa going after 33 year old Charley Garner.)

Arlen Harris just isn't starter material from what I saw of him last year. You could make a case for Gordon, but he's had trouble holding onto the ball (was ok last year but several balls came loose but he was ruled down) and he's been a bit injury-prone. I think the Rams will try to deal Gordon for a pick.

I'm sure Jackson being on the board was a surprise to the Rams. He'll probably return kicks this year and get a series in most games. The Rams may run a few two back sets and put Faulk in motion as a receiver, too, with Jackson in the backfield as a threat to run the ball. I'm sure they'll figure out a way to give him a few touches most games. I Jackson as the starter possibly as early as '05.

[Warlord of Mars]

To be fair to Charlie Garner, he has never been the fully featured back since Philly, and I don't recall him having 300 carries in a season. His body could be considered that of a 28-29 year old running back by NFL standards as a result of being beat up less.

[christopher]

Sad to see Cody Pickett drop to the seventh round. If he had come out last year, after he blew away the Pac-10 single-season passing record, he would easily have been a 1st or 2nd rounder. But he had an injury-plagued senior season, and the fact that he had no O-line or running back help killed him. Oh well, first-round QB's tend to be busts more often than not; hopefully he can recover. Good, tough kid.

Yet another 7th round quarterback taken by the Niners! They've got three of them now, so one of them has to be the next Tom Brady, right? :wink:

As for the rest of their draft, it was ok. I like the reciever they took in the first round, the guard in the second, and the defensive lineman they took in the fourth.

[The Man in Blak]

To be fair to Charlie Garner, he has never been the fully featured back since Philly, and I don't recall him having 300 carries in a season. His body could be considered that of a 28-29 year old running back by NFL standards as a result of being beat up less.

He may not have a bunch of carries in his career, but he's got plenty of injuries (back and knee, specifically), which helped downgrade him enough to lose his job to Tyrone Wheatley last year in Oakland.

Garner, in his prime, was one of the most complete (and under-utilized) backs in the league. Unfortunately, that prime has long since passed him by.

[Robert Sharp]

Jackson fits well with the Rams. He catches the ball well, has decent speed and gives them the power they have needed from their run game. I like the pick a lot, though it did suprise me at the time.

Detroit had an excellent draft. I also liked the Jags draft a good bit, though I am never in favor of drafting kickers/punters. I also like what the Bears did.

I thought the Titans made out like bandits on the DL players. They monopolized DEs and Starks was nice value. Waddell could be great returning kicks, but he can't play CB very well. They also signed Jarrett Payton and Robert Kent as UFAs, which are good moves. I thought Payton played pretty well and was underrated because of comparisons to his father and Miami's general lack of a good passing game this last season.

I did NOT like the Browns draft. They traded too much to go up one pick and get Winslow. To be honest receivers were not their biggest need, even if Winslow is most likely going to be a star. I also think Houston made a bad move in giving the Titans so many picks, especially to pick up Babin, who might not be as good as that trade would indicate. He looked good in college, but played at a smaller school and will most likely move to LB, which may not work. The Cowboys trade was odd as well, though I do like Julius Jones. His best years are ahead of him and he has all the tools to do well...of course, so did his brother. The Giants and Bills made some poor choices, giving away picks for players that are not the stars they are made out to be. Losman in particular is a HUGE risk. The colts were also taking strange chances. I really like Bob Sanders, but isn't he just Mike Doss (perhaps better than Doss, but the same type of guy)? And a TE? Is Dallas Clark still hurt or something? Did Marcus Pollard leave?