| | The Jets had an NFL-record four picks in the first round of the draft and
they addressed some needs by picking up pass rushers and a quarterback
of the future in Chad Pennington, who was regarded as the top signal-caller in the draft.
|  | | The Jets made a mistake by not trading up to take Plaxico Burress. |
However, they failed to properly address their most glaring need: receiver.
After shipping franchise player Keyshawn Johnson to Tampa Bay in exchange
for two first-round picks (Nos. 13 and 27), the Jets didn't use their
first-round strength to move up and pick one of the elite receivers (i.e., Plaxico Burress).
This was a mistake -- one that'll be analyzed and talked about for a long
time.
There were many ups and downs for AFC teams in the draft. Here's
a team-by-team look at how they fared:
AFC East
Buffalo Bills. Arizona State defensive end Erik Flowers is no Bruce Smith, but he should help the pass rush. Georgia Tech safety Travares
Tillman, best in run force, could become a replacement for Kurt Schulz.
Virginia Tech linebacker Corey Moore is a project because of his size (5-foot-11,
222 pounds), but he should upgrade the Bills' special teams immediately. So, too,
could kick returner Avion Black, who could develop as a receiver. Grade: C-plus.
Indianapolis Colts. The Colts got one of the top-rated linebackers in BYU's Rob Morris, who addresses the team's desire for a solid run
defender in the middle. Auburn linebacker Marcus Washington, who played some
defensive line in college, could develop into a good pass rusher. He should
be an immediate help on special teams. Penn State cornerback David Macklin
will add depth, but his size (5-8½) makes him a question mark. Grade: B
Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins had no first-round pick, which hurts, but
they picked up behemoth Mississippi guard Todd Wade (6-7¾, 325). He could
be a major contributor if he can pick up the system quickly.
Goodness knows, the Dolphins are desperate for a running game. That seems to
be an annual theme. Undersized cornerback Ben Kelly, out of Colorado at 5-8½, is a speed burner and could help the return units. North Carolina
fullback Deon Dyer could aid the running game, but it seems like the
Dolphins already have plenty of fullbacks. Grade: C
New England Patriots. New England, also without a No. 1 pick, believes in the
second round it found a replacement at left tackle for the released Bruce
Armstrong -- Hawaii's Adrian Klemm (6-4, 306). Klemm, however, is said to be
a bit raw, which could preclude him from stepping in immediately. Arizona State
running back J.R. Redmond should help right away as a third-down back and in
the return game. Grade: C-plus
New York Jets. As stated above, the Jets failed to land one of the elite
receivers with their first-round strength of four picks. In their defense,
though, they might have stolen Marshall quarterback Pennington at No. 18
as their leader of the future. Tennessee defensive end Shaun Ellis could be
boom or bust. South Carolina linebacker John Abraham could help the team
immediately as an edge pass rusher. The Jets hope West
Virginia tight end Anthony Becht steps in as the starter they desperately
need. The Jets did address the receiver position with some risk picks. They
got Florida State's Laveranues Coles, who was a good value in the
third round despite a checkered past with the law. USC's Windrell Hayes,
who's a little more polished than Coles, could help more immediately as a possession receiver. Grade: B-plus
AFC Central
Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore did a solid job picking Tennessee running back
Jamal Lewis and Florida receiver Travis Taylor with top-10 selections. The
Ravens were tempted to trade down with the Jets but stood pat and addressed
offense in a big way for Brian Billick. Louisville quarterback Chris Redman
could prove to be a strong value in the third round. Grade: A
Cincinnati Bengals. Prolific Florida State receiver and returner Peter Warrick
should significantly help accelerate the development of Akili Smith, last
year's No. 1. LSU defensive back Mark Roman could become a starting safety.
Florida State receiver Ron Dugans is a possession-type player and should
contribute immediately. The Bengals also addressed their kicking game with
kicker Neil Rackers and long snapper Brad St. Louis. Grade: A-minus
Cleveland Browns. How could the Browns miss? They should hit the jackpot with
Penn State defensive end Courtney Brown. Their second-round pick, Arizona
receiver Dennis Northcutt, could become a star with his speed and return
skills. The only problem for him is bad-guy agent Jerome Stanley, who has a
questionable reputation, making signability a possible problem. Miami of Ohio
running back Travis Prentice, a prolific producer in college, could be a
great value in the third round. Grade: A
Jacksonville Jaguars. USC receiver R. Jay Soward, with his 4.37 speed and
dangerous return ability, seduced Jacksonville into picking him in the first
round. His commitment and character, however, have been questioned,
making him a gamble to go that high. Northern Iowa center Brad Meester
is a smart player whom the Jags hope might project into a guard position.
Southern Mississippi linebacker T.J. Slaughter could eventually become a
starter but will be an immediate special-teams contributor. Grade: D
Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh made the big swing pick in the first round.
The Steelers, who were said to be high on Pennington, opted instead for
Michigan State receiver Plaxico Burress, whom the Jets coveted. Burress is a
tall receiver who needs to polish his route running. Because of his height,
he was able to get away with freelancing his routes in college. That won't
work in the NFL. Pittsburgh might, though, have made a mistake if Pennington
works out well with the Jets, because Kordell Stewart will not lead the
Steelers to a Super Bowl. Arizona State tackle Marvel Smith could become a
starter before the end of the year. Local-boy Pittsburgh cornerback Hank
Poteat, a tough, hard-nosed player, could be a solid starter and is a
potential return man, too. Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin could prove to be
strong value down the road. Grade: B-plus
Tennessee Titans. Super Bowl teams aren't supposed to land terrific
players, but in Syracuse linebacker Keith Bulluck, the Titans might have
found a gem with great stretch-the-field speed. With a need at tight end,
Tennessee mght have reached for Florida's Erron Kinney, the third-rated tight
end in what looked like a two-tight-end draft. Grade: C
AFC West
Denver Broncos. With Dale Carter suspended, Denver reached for California
cornerback Deltha O'Neal, who has questionable speed at 4.65. He should be an immediate factor as a returner on special teams, however. Undersized
Michigan linebacker Ian Gold should also help right away on special teams.
Arkansas safety Kenoy Kennedy is a tenacious hitter who needs to play more
within the scheme. Texas A&M receiver Chris Cole gives the Broncos needed
speed at wide receiver. Grade: C
Kansas City Chiefs. Jackson State receiver Sylvester Morris, who elevated his
status with a strong Senior Bowl performance, can be a good one when he
refines his skills. Oklahoma cornerback William Bartee has great size for the
position (6-1 1/8, 192) but he needs to improve his techniques, particularly
man coverage. The Chiefs waited too long to address their terrible running
back situation, drafting Louisville's Frank Moreau, who looks just OK, and
Dante Hall, a speedster from Texas A&M who was dismissed from the team in '99
for disciplinary reasons -- always an alarm. Grade: C
Oakland Raiders. Very controversial taking Florida State kicker Sebastian
Janikowski in the first round. If Janikowski isn't deported, arrested or
anything else, he does have rare talent. The Raiders believe he'll put them
over the top in close games. West Virginia receiver Jerry Porter looks like an excellent pick, giving Oakland a big (6-2, 220),
physical receiver with a lot of tools. Bottom line with the first pick: The
Raiders could have traded down and still gotten the kicker. Grade: C
San Diego Chargers. With no No. 1 pick, San Diego went with need and plucked
Marshall safety Rogers Beckett, who could become a starter shortly. They helped
the offensive line with Wisconsin guard Damion McIntosh, though he won't
likely start soon. He's a project. Miami of Ohio receiver Trevor Gaylor, with
questionable size (6-3, 200) must bulk up. Grade: D
Seattle Seahawks. Mike Holmgren was ecstatic to see Alabama running back
Shaun Alexander fall to him in the first round. Many believe the Giants
should have taken Alexander, because of his terrific hands, over Ron Dayne. Tackle Chris McIntosh could be a quick help to the
running game. He should step right in at right tackle. Cornerback Ike Charlton
should be an immediate help as a returner on special teams and could end up
opposite Shawn Springs. Grade: A
Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post writes an AFC notebook for ESPN.com. | |
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