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NFL Draft 2005The NFL Draft 2005 Review Round 1
NFL DRAFT: Picks 1-3
This was a no brainer for the Niners. At first, everyone thought it was a toss up between Smith and Rodgers for the number 1 spot but in the end everyone knew it would be Smith. Should he start and go through the trial and tribulations of a rookie QB like Eli Manning? That should be the main question right now. Tim Rattay is not a bad QB and Smith would benefit from a year of development. Smith will get into games and get to see some action but if the Niners want him to be their stud in the next year or two, make him a backup and let him develop. NFL Draft 2005 Pick #2: Dolphins: Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn How bad were the Dolphins last year? They could not run the ball to save their lives. Was that the main reason they only won 4 games? That was part of the reason. Injuries were another. Actually we could go on and on why the Dolphins didn’t win but that could be a whole article in itself. The Dolphins got exactly what they needed though. They needed a running back that could run the ball 20-30 times a game. They tried that last year by running back by committee, but as we all know, that didn’t work. Ronnie Brown is big and fast and will do quite well in the new Dolphin’s system. Is he Ricky Williams? We will have to watch and find out. By the way, can you name a running back used by the Dolphins last year?
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #3: Browns: Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan There were a few people out there that believed the Dolphins should have taken Edwards. Heck, even the Dolphins were playing along with idea of taking something other than a running back. When the Dolphins took Brown, the Browns had to take Edwards. You could not pass up on this guy. This is one talented wide receiver. Wide receivers with this much playmaker ability don’t come around too often. They have a solid running game and now they have a real threat at wide receiver. We all know that Dilfer is the quarterback but at the same time, we all know he knows how to win. The question with the Browns now is Winslow? Will he be able to come back? If he does, this will be a hard offense to stop.
The Bears landed a solid running back with the pick of Benson. This is one powerful back. With Benson, the Bears are not getting an outside the tackles, down the sideline runner. They are getting an up the middle, “try and tackle me with one guy” runner. That is how big and strong this guy is. He will get a lot of touches in Chicago and the Bears will improve. The passing game will see much improvement with Benson in the backfield as well.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #5: Bucs: Carnell Williams, RB, Auburn The Bucs may have been the most confused coming into the draft. They didn’t’ know what they wanted. Did they want to trade up and try and get a QB? Did they want to get themselves a wide receiver or do they go with a running back. This is what happens when you are a struggling team with lots of holes to fill. They went the running back route and chose Williams from Auburn. Deep down, this was probably the best pick they could have made. Williams is a great all around back that can run the ball, catch the ball out of the backfield or even line up at wide receiver. We all know Gruden loves multipurpose players and Williams is just that. Look for Williams to have a big year with the Bucs.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #6: Titans: Adam “Pacman” Jones, CB, West Virginia The Titans were in desperate need of a cornerback. They had 2 good ones to chose from sothey really couldn’t do wrong with either one. The Titans went with Jones instead of Rolle. Jones is a little quicker than Rolle and a better man-to-man cover man. The added bonus with Jones is he is also an excellent punt returner. Jones will help the Titan’s struggling defense and also will add a little flare to the team returning punts. Solid pick for the Titans.
Mike Williams was still available for the Vikings but instead they decided to go with Williamson. People were a bit shocked with this pick but Williamson’s stock in the draft just grew and grew week by week. He will be Moss’s replacement even though he has some big shoes to fill, he will fit in just right with the high powered passing game of the Vikings. Williamson still has a lot to learn but has no problem running vertical and catching deep passes from Culpepper.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #8: Cardinals: Antrel Rolle, CB, Miami Basically, who ever the Titans took, the Cards were taking the one left over. The Titans took Jones so the Cards took Rolle and are quite happy about it. Though Rolle lacks the speed of Jones, he is just as physical if not more. Rolle likes to play tough and is a big strong cornerback. The Cards needed someone that isn’t afraid of anyone and they found that in Rolle.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #9: Redskins: Carlos Rodgers, CB, Auburn Another strong and physical cornerback just like Jones and Rolle is Rodgers. Yet another Auburn player chosen in the top ten and another reason the Tigers were undefeated last year. Not only is Rodgers strong and physical, he does have the speed to complement his power. A lot of people believed he was the best cornerback out there but no one knows for sure. The Redskins believed he was the best and are happy to have him playing on their defense next year. NFL DRAFT 2005: Picks 10-12
Amazing Hands. This man has a great set of hands on him. Let’s not forget that he is pretty quick as well. But nothing tops some of the catches this kid has made. The Lions will have a young group of wide receivers but talented ones to boot. It’s been a few years since he has been on the field but he will prove that he is the best receiver in the draft. He wants to prove to the nine teams in front of him that they made a mistake not taking him. Someone by the name of Randy Moss did same thing.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #11: Cowboys: Demarcus Ware, DE, Troy State Last year, the Cowboys had a dismal defense. Granted, they had injuries but that’s not an excuse for Parcells. The Cowboys had to go defense so they went with Ware. Ware is full of speed and power, which is much needed for the D-line for Cowboys. He could even play some outside linebacker if needed for the Boys. This was a big versatile pick for the Cowboys, which should help their defense out in a major way.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #12: Chargers: Shawne Merriman, OLB, Maryland Chargers were all over the place with this pick. They could have gone offense or defense. They were thinking Williams if he was available but with the Lions taking him, they had to go defense with Merriman. Just like Ware taken by the Cowboys, Merriman is a versatile pick. He is fast enough to play outside linebacker and strong enough to play defensive end. Where will he play??? It doesn’t matter to the Chargers, they are happy to have such a versatile defensive player on their team.
NFL DRAFT 2005: Picks 13-15
Versatility is the name of the last few picks and Brown is no exception. The last few picks were versatile by being able to play either linebacker or end. Brown on the other hand started his college career as a defensive lineman and ended it as an offensive lineman which lead to him being picked 13th. Most likely he will stay on the offensive side of the ball. Hopefully he will be able to make holes for Deuce to run through for many touchdowns for the Saints this year.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #14: Panthers: Thomas Davis, FS, Georgia This pick is more of where he is going to play rather than versatility. Davis played free safety in college and was a force. Now though, some NFL scouts believe he may be a liability as a safety. It is unbelievable how dominant you were at the college level at one position and then when you make it to the NFL they tell you that you are a liability. That happens in the later round but you hardly ever see that with a first round pick. Scouts believe that linebacker might be a better fit for Davis in the NFL. Either way, Davis is a great athlete and should be able to adjust to any position the Panthers put him at.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #15: Chiefs: Derrick O. Johnson, OLB, Texas You just don’t see a lot of linebackers taken in the first round of the draft. Usually corners and ends are the main focus on the defensive side of the ball for the first round of the draft anyway. But with Johnson getting picked in the middle of the first round, it really shows how good this kid is. Is he perfect? Well, no of course. He does have some cons towards him such as he is too soft especially when it comes to taking on bigger blockers but for the most part, this kid can play. He is extremely quick and has great playmaker ability for a linebacker and should fit in nicely with the Chief’s defense.
NFL DRAFT 2005: Picks 16-18
Johnson has a lot to prove to quite a few people. There were a tremendous amount of people who were not thrilled with this pick of Johnson by the Texans. There were other top picks out there that a lot of Texans fans thought were better choices. The reason for all this negativity towards Johnson is that if you were to look at his college stats, they just don’t measure up to a first round pick. Ok, maybe a late first round pick but not a first round pick this high. If Johnson can overcome all the naysayers and prove them all wrong, then all will be forgotten and this pick will prove to be the right one. Johnson will have to use all this negativity towards him as motivation to succeed.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #17: Bengals: David Pollack, DE, Georgia A great pick for the Bengals and their defense. Someone who can get off the line with speed, shed blockers, and track down a running back or quarterback with ease is every defensive coach’s dream and the Bengals found one in Pollack. Basically, Pollack can do all of that and make it look routine. Even as a rookie, his presence on that defensive line will make the Bengals that much better.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #18: Vikings: Erasmus James, DE, Wisconsin Injuries aside, James may be one of the best ends in the draft bar none. A hip injury last year probably hurt his chances of being a top 10 pick. Some believe that without that injury last year, he could have been a top 3 pick. That is how good this kid is. The question now is, can he bring himself back to the level of play where he was before he got hurt? If James can stay healthy and doesn’t have any lingering affects from that hip injury, he will do a great job for the Vikings defensive line for years to come.
NFL DRAFT 2005: Picks 19-21
Can you find another lineman with this much ability drafted in the past 10 years? Here’s one: Orlando Pace. Now name another one? Probably hard to find another one. The scary thing is that Barron will be on the other side of line from Pace. With both Barron and Pace blocking for the Rams, they should have a pretty solid offensive line. Barron is a big boy weighing over 300lbs and measuring about 6-8. Plus anyone who can run a sub 5.0 in the 40 yard dash and is over 300lbs is what people call an athlete.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #20: Cowboys: Marcus Spears, DE, LSU Spears is a big defensive end that should come to big D and play right away. They have a new defensive mix in Dallas and Spears should be able to get significant playing time right away. With how bad their defense was last year, the Cowboys are going to try and mix it up a bit on the defensive side of the ball and Spears is part of the mix. He will be an important part of trying to find and bring back the defense in big D.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #21: Jaguars: Matt Jones, WR, Arkansas Another versatility pick in the first round. And when you say versatility, you think of Matt Jones. This kid can do it all. You tell him what position to play and most likely he’ll be able to play it for you. He was drafted as a wide receiver but can play just about anywhere. If you want him to return punts, he’ll do that for you and excel. How about return kicks? Not a problem for Jones. He’ll even play quarterback for you if you need him too. He may not be the best at one position but there is nothing better than having such a great athlete on your team that no matter what position he plays, he will help out your team.
NFL DRAFT 2005: Picks 22-24
One of the Sooner’s best wide receivers ever is going to a team in desperate need of a solid wide receiver. Clayton will help out the Raven’s weak wide receiver staff in his rookie year without a doubt. A good wide receiver core will help out young Boller as well as relieve some stress off Lewis at running back and tight end Heap. If Clayton can come in and use his speed, this wide receiver group could be deadly. Clayton could be the missing link in getting the Raven’s back to the top.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #23: Raiders: Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska The Raiders are trying to tell Woodson something with this pick. With this pick of Washington, they are basically telling Woodson, you may not be a Raider for much longer. Is Washington as good as Woodson? Probably not right now, but who knows in the future. Washington has speed galore and is coming from Nebraska where defense is looked upon greater than the offense at times. If the Raiders deal Woodson, Washington is going to have to step up as rookie and be a leader in the secondary.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #24: Packers: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Cal Easily, the steal of the draft by the Packers. Why did Rodgers fall in this draft? For a while, he and Smith were a toss up for the top pick. The Packers have found the replacement for Favre when he is ready to retire. They thought they found it in Couch last year and he didn’t even make it through the year on the roster. Rodgers looked distraught while he watched his stock fall and fall in this draft but he has to be ecstatic being picked by the Packers. He won’t play much until Favre retires but talk about learning from a great quarterback and that is what he needs to become a star in this league. A great pick for the Packers and a great place for Rodgers. I’m sure he has forgotten about his fall in the draft now.
NFL DRAFT 2005: Picks 25-27
One of the most talented athletes in this draft. Athletic wise, he is probably better than Smith and Rodgers put together. Toughness and quarterback wise, not even close. With the right help and coaching, this could wind up being a great pick by the Redskins. The problem is the Redskins need him now. They do not have a solid quarterback where Smith and Rodgers can be back ups for a year or two and hone their skills since their teams have decent quarterbacks. If the Redskins can work with him for at least a year, Campbell will end up being a star. If they have to push him into the mix this year, he could wind up struggling for a few years. The question should be, can the Redskins wait?
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #26: Seahawks: Chris Spencer, C, Mississippi You don’t often see a center get selected in the first round. With that said, you realize how good Spencer is right now and how great he will become. This kid can do it all. He has strength to go along with speed and athleticism. He will be a great addition to the Seahawks front line and don’t be surprised to see Alexander’s numbers increase this year at running back because of the presence of Spencer.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #27: Falcons: Sharod White, WR, UAB This is a great pick for the Falcons. He is tough and athletic and quick as well as tall. Basically if someone were looking for an ideal wide receiver, most people wouldn’t look past White. He seems to have all the aspects of the “perfect” wide receiver. Is he perfect? By all means, not even close but with some work and practice, he will fit in perfectly with Vick throwing him the ball.
NFL DRAFT 2005: Picks 28-32
A very talented defensive tackle that without the injuries last year could have gone higher. Considered as one of the quickest defensive tackles in the draft, played most of his 2004 season with injuries. Didn’t play to his potential last year because of the injuries but the Chargers saw the full potential. The only down side to this pick is he did admit to taking performance-enhancing drugs. If he is able to play, which at the moment looks as if he should, he should be able to step right in to the Charger’s defense and help out.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #29: Colts: Marlin Jackson, CB, Michigan The Colts are known for their defense. Wait, their lack of defense that is. Granted their defense was better last year that it has been in a few years but still not top notch. Jackson isn’t going to come in and make this the top defense but he will come in and help out this team in the secondary. Not the quickest of corners but for a team that plays a lot of zone, Jackson is just the right fit. A solid defender against the pass and the run, Jackson will help out Indy’s defense in his first year.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #30: Steelers: Heath Miller, TE, Virginia Miller is an athletic tight end that will come in and help the Steelers right away. An off season operation has slowed him up quite a bit the past few months which in turn hurt him in the draft. If he can get back to form, Miller is a tight end who can block, run short routes and even take it deep if needed. As long as he can recover from the operation, this will be a good fit for him.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #31: Eagles: Mike Patterson, DT, USC Hard worker. The only two words you would need to use to describe Patterson. This kid works hard all game and never gives up on a play. Patterson is a smart, tough player who makes everyone around him better. People just see how hard he works and it makes them work even that much harder. Patterson will come to the Eagles and put a new kick-start into an already stellar D-line.
NFL Draft 2005 Pick #32: Patriots: Logan Mankins, G, Fresno State Yet another hard worker picked in the first round. Mankins loves what he does. Not saying not all football players love what they do but this kid really does. He will block for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if he has to. A strong kid with a big heart who works hard for you every single down. A perfect fit for a “team oriented” team.
Round #2: Pick #44: Cardinals: J.J. Arrington, RB, Cal -- First Year Contributor??? Round #3: Pick #77: Eagles: Ryan Moats, RB, Louisiana State – Could be a stud if on another team. Round #3: Pick #101: Broncos: Maurice Clarette, RB, Ohio State -- Could be the next 1,000 yard back in the Broncos organization. Round #4: Pick #106: Bears: Kyle Orton, QB, Purdue -- Once a Heisman hopeful, now a 3rd string QB? Round #4: Pick #121: Panthers: Stefan Lefers, QB, Louisville -- 2-point conversion QB? Round #6: Pick #185: Jaguars: Chad Owens, WR, Hawaii -- Could be a special teams stud even at 5’-7”? Round #7: Pick #255: Patriots: Andy Stokes, TE, William Penn -- Last pick, got to give him props
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