The home of die hard Pittsburgh Steelers fans. It's not just a team, it's a way of life!

Haven's 2003 Mock Draft, version 1

March 27, 2003 by Steel Haven

Last Updated 3/27

Round 1

  1. Cincinnati Bengals

    QB Carson Palmer - USC

    Palmer failed to solidify himself as the top pick at the combine unlike David Carr last season. Not that Palmer performed poorly, he just did not have the eye opening workouts that would have made him the unquestioned number one pick. The thing is, no other player in this draft really stands out as clearly more valuable than Palmer. In the final analysis it will be very difficult for the team picking first to justify passing on the opportunity to select a possible franchise QB. Whether the Bengals exercise this pick or trade down to add additional talent is really the issue. Should the Bengals keep the pick drafting the ultimate replacement for a 31 year old journeyman starter with a career 72.9 passer rating and a history of making the big mistake at the wrong time seems to make sense, especially considering the Bengals focus on improving the defense through free agency.
    • Needs: QB, DB, G/C, WR, DE
    • Other Options: WR C Rogers, trade down
    .
  2. Detroit Lions

    WR Charles Rogers - Michigan St

    This pick seems to be a no brainer. The Lions need to give Joey Harrington more talent to work with on offense. The decision by Ricky Williams to return to school and the unfortunate injury to Willis McGahee clearly makes Rogers the best offensive skill position player available. Doesn't hurt that Rogers is a Michigan native that grew up in Saginaw and played his college ball at East Lansing.
    • Needs: LB, WR, RB, OG, DL
    • Hope might be available: no one
    • Other Options: DE T Suggs
    .
  3. Houston Texans

    WR Andre Johnson - Miami (Fla)

    The Texans laid the foundation on defense in their first season and now need to get help for David Carr on offense. The most glaring weakness is a lack of gamebreaking offensive skill position talent. The Texans could trade down, but if they want a top offensive playmaker they can not move down more than a pick or two. Johnson possesses an impressive combination of size, speed, and hands. There is a major dropoff from Johnson to the next best receiver or the top RB.
    • Needs: RB, WR, OLB, OT, FS, DE
    • Hope might be available: WR C Rogers
    • Other Options: DT J Kennedy, DT D Robertson, trade down
    .
  4. Chicago Bears

    DT Jimmy Kennedy - Penn State

    The Bears defense had success two years ago with DTs Kevin Traylor and Ted Washington clogging the middle. Kennedy would provide that type of huge presence which MLB Brian Urlacher sorely missed last season. On the field Kennedy is an overpowering player with a quick first step and the lower body strength to handle double teams. Kennedy looks to be a perfect fit in Chicago, although he has been a bit of a disapointment in postseason workouts.
    • Needs: DL, OT, SS, QB, OLB, RB
    • Hope might be available: no one in particular
    • Other Options: QB B Leftwich, DT D Robertson, DE T Suggs
    .
  5. Dallas Cowboys

    DE Terrell Suggs - Arizona St

    A big play performer that broke the NCAA single season sack record with 22, Suggs gives Bill Parcells an explosive edge pass rusher that can immediately contribute. Dallas was tied for 30th in the NFL last season with a paltry 24 sacks. An improved pass rush can only help the incumbent corners.
    • Needs: DE, RB, CB, QB, DT, TE
    • Hope might be available: no one in particular
    • Other Options: CB T Newman, D Robertson, trade down
    .
  6. Arizona Cardinals

    QB Byron Leftwich - Marshall

    The Cardinals are basically starting over. They have a number of needs on both sides of the ball and could go in just about any direction with this pick. Leftwich has prototypical size, a cannon arm, and the leadership skills to develop into a franchise QB. He showed remarkable toughness playing through a stress fracture in his lower leg as a senior. Leftwich was medically cleared at the combine although he was unable to perform in any workouts due to the injury. He is expected to be able to workout for scouts in mid-April. The signing of veteran journeyman Jeff Blake gives Leftwich time to grow into the job.
    • Needs: WR, DE, QB, CB, LB
    • Hoped might be available: WR A Johnson, DE T Suggs
    • Other Options: CB T Newman
    .
  7. Minnesota Vikings

    DT Dewayne Robertson - Kentucky

    The Vikings are still looking to add bulk and athleticism on the defensive line after being foiled in their attempt to draft Ryan Simms last season by a last second trade between the Cowboys and Chiefs. Robertson did not work out at the combine, but at Kentucky's pro day ran 2 sub-4.9 forties at 324 pounds and did 30 bench press reps of 225 pounds. Not just a workout warrior, he consistently beat double teams at Kentucky making big plays in the backfield despite being the focus of the opposition.
    • Needs: DL, FS, LB, WR, CB
    • Hope might be available: no one in particular
    • Other Options: CB T Newman
    .
  8. Jacksonville Jaguars

    CB Terrence Newman - Kansas St

    Expect Jack Del Rio to begin rebuilding the Jaguars through defense. Newman falling to this pick would be the best case scenario for Jacksonville. He should become an immediate starter, providing blazing speed and solid coverage skills. The only slight knock on Newman is that he will turn 25 before the start of his rookie year.
    • Needs: WR, CB, RT, OG, LB
    • Hope is available: WR A Johnson
    • Other Options: OT J Gross, CB M Trufant
    .
  9. Carolina Panthers

    OT Jordan Gross - Utah

    The Panthers' agressive targetting of offensive skill position talent in free agency resulted in the signings of Jake Delhomme, Stephen Davis, Kevin Dyson, and Ricky Proehl. Now Carolina needs to focus on building an offensive line to protect their investments. Gross is the best bet of all the offensive lineman in this draft to have immediate success. He is a natural left tackle that has enough toughness and aggresiveness to start his career on the right side.
    • Needs: CB, OL, TE, WR, FS
    • Hope might be available: WR A Johnson
    • Other Options: CB M Trufant
    .
  10. Baltimore Ravens

    QB Kyle Boller - California

    Boller is rocketing up draft boards based on a breakout senior season and impressive post season performances at both the Senior Bowl and combine. Brian Billick has gotten by with a string mediocre QBs by emphasizing ball control and defense. Boller would give Billick the opportunity to develop a wide open offense more reminiscent of his work in Minnesota.
    • Needs: WR, DL, QB, OT
    • Hope might be available: DT D Robertson
    • Other Options: OT K Harris, DT K Williams
    .
  11. Seattle Seahawks

    DT Kevin Williams - Oklahoma St

    Williams opened some eyes at the Senior Bowl after not always getting the recognition he deserved playing in Stillwater. A productive multiyear starter, Williams has a quick first step and excellent speed. The Seahawks need an upgrade across the entire defensive front. Taking Williams over a top defensive end would provide them with a disruptive force against both the pass and the run.
    • Needs: DL, FS, LB, OL, CB
    • Hope might be available: DT D Robertson
    • Other Options: DE J McDougal
    .
  12. St. Louis Rams

    CB Marcus Trufant - Washington St

    The trade of a 2004 second round pick for Kyle Turley gives the Rams more flexibility with this pick. Mike Martz is reportedly looking to add speed and athleticism to his defense. Trufant is a fluid athlete with above average recovery speed. He was very impressive at the Senior Bowl and a solid forty time at the combine solidified his status as a top pick.
    • Needs: CB, LB, OL, WR
    • Hope might be available: no one in particular
    • Other Options: LB B Bailey
    .
  13. New York Jets (from Washington)

    LB Boss Bailey - Georgia

    The Jets use the pick acquired from the Redskins' signing of RFA Laverneus Coles to add youth, speed, and athleticism to an aging LB corps. Bailey is the younger brother of Redskin corner Champ Bailey. He has the speed of a DB and enough size to thrive at OLB. The main knock on Bailey is that he sometimes overpursues and misses tackles. That should be correctable.
    • Needs: DT, LB, WR, CB, OG
    • Hope might be available: DT D Robertson, DT K Williams
    • Other Options: DT J Sullivan
    .
  14. New England Patriots (from Buffalo)

    DT Jonathon Sullivan - Georgia

    Sullivan is a young, developing player with a solid frame and a quick first step. Paired with fellow Georgia alumni Richard Seymour he would make the middle of the Patriots defense very tough to attack. Bill Belichek usually targets more polished players, but Sullivan has too much potential to pass up at this point.
    • Needs: DT, OL, DE, RB, CB
    • Hope might be available: LB B Bailey, DT K Williams
    • Other Options: DT W Joseph, CB D Weathersby
    .
  15. San Diego Chargers

    OT Kwame Harris - Stanford

    After signing David Boston as an unrestricted free agent the Chargers need to upgrade both the offensive and defensive lines. Harris is a huge, athletic RT with the skill to perhaps move to the left side in time.
    • Needs: DT, OL, S, CB
    • Hope might be available: no one in particular
    • Other Options: DT W Joseph, OL E Steinbach
    .
  16. Kansas City Chiefs

    DE Jerome McDougal - Miami (Fla)

    The Cheifs were last in total defense last season and need a major upgrade. After addressed their defensive backfield and linebacking corps in free agency, they turn to the defensive front in the draft. McDougal provides tremendous speed and lateral movement. He drops mostly because at 6'1" he is not as tall as some teams would prefer.
    • Needs: DE, WR, DB, QB, MLB
    • Hope might be available: LB B Bailey, CB M Trufant
    • Other Options: LB T Pierce, CB D Weathersby
    .
  17. New Orleans Saints

    CB Dennis Weathersby - Oregon St

    Weathersby made himself alot of money at the combine by running two sub-4.4 forties. Weathersby was a productive, multi-year starter in the PAC 10 with the size that pro teams covet. The Saints have seemingly been trying to upgrade the CB position for years. Adding Weathersby after the signing of free agent Ashley Ambrose might just do the trick.
    • Needs: CB, OLB, TE, DT, S
    • Hope might be available: DT J Sullivan
    • Other Options: LB T Pierce, TE J Witten
    .
  18. New Orleans Saints (from Miami)

    OL Eric Steinbach - Iowa

    Even with the trade of Kyle Turley the Saints do not have a major need on the offensive line. Steinbach is just too good to pass up. The scary thing is that he is still learning the intricacies of his position after being recruited as a TE. Steinbach played OG at Iowa, but has the size and athleticism to play LT. He should be able to start inside immediately and in two or three years replace newly signed Wayne Gandy at LT.
    • Hope might be available: DT J Sullivan
    • Other Options: LB T Pierce, TE J Witten
    .
  19. New England Patriots

    RB Larry Johnson - Penn St

    Johnson solidified his position as the top RB in the draft with an impressive Senior Bowl performance and pro day workout. A big back with deceptive speed, Johnson is an especially good fit for the Patriots offensive because of his ability to contribute in the passing game.
    • Hope might be available: OL E Steinbach, CB D Weathersby
    • Other Options: DE M Haynes, LB T Pierce
    .
  20. Denver Broncos

    DE Michael Haynes - Penn St

    Haynes is a relentless worker with the knack for making the big play. He took many by surprise as a senior leading the Big 10 with 14.5 sacks and 22 tackles for a loss. He also was credited with 7 forced fumbles. Haynes was the defensive MVP of the Senior Bowl. After tweaking a hamstring at the combine, he re-established himself as a player on the rise with a solid on campus workout.
    • Needs: DE, CB, S, OT, OLB
    • Hope might be available: DE J McDougal, CB D Weathersby
    • Other Options: DE C Kelsay, CB A Woolfolk
    .
  21. Cleveland Browns

    LB Terry Pierce - Kansas St

    Only four years removed from expansion the Browns were forced to gut their defense due to salary cap issues. Pierce is a fierce hitter with an excellent feel for the game. Although he lacks top speed, Pierce is an intelligent player that always seems to be around the ball. He seems ready to step in immediately and start which is an important attribute for the Browns. Best suited as a MLB, Pierce could also hold his own on the strong side.
    • Needs: LB, CB, OL, DT, TE
    • Hope might be available: OL E Steinbach, CB D Weathersby
    • Other Options: DT W Joseph, CB A Woolfolk
    .
  22. New York Jets

    DT William Joseph - Miami (Fla)

    Joseph is a disrupted lineman blessed with incredible quickness. His stock has fallen somewhat after an inconsistent senior campaign in which he was part of a DT rotation because of the high talent level in the Miami program. The Jets seem to be looking for more of an inside run stuffer, but would have to be pleasantly surprised to find Joseph available this late.
    • Hope might be available: DT J Sullivan
    • Other Options: WR T Jacobs, DT K Peterson, WR K Washington
    .
  23. Buffalo Bills (from Atlanta)

    DE Chris Kelsay - Nebraska

    The Bills still need to improve their pass rush after upgrading the rest of their defense through free agency after freeing up cap space with the trade of Peerless Price. Kelsay is a tall, lanky player with a nice burst around the corner. He came on as the season progressed after missing time with a torn hamstring. Kelsay solidified his place as a first rounder at the combine by running 2 sub-4.75 forties while carrying 273 pounds on his 6'4" frame.
    • Needs: DE, WR, FB, S, CB
    • Hope might be available: DE M Haynes
    • Other Options: DE C Redding
    .
  24. Indianapolis Colts

    CB Andre Woolfolk - Oklahoma

    A raw prospect that only moved to CB full time as a senior. Woolfolk's play lagged down the stretch when opponents started to avoid junior Derrick Straits. After watching his draft stock plummet with a poor showing at the Senior Bowl, Woolfolk has climbed back into the late first round by displaying top athleticism in drills at the combine and Oklahoma's pro day.
    • Needs: OLB, S, OG, CB, DT
    • Hoped might be available: CB D Weathersby
    • Other Options: S T Polamalu
    .
  25. New York Giants

    DL Kenny Peterson - Ohio St

    Peterson burst onto the national scene as a major component in Ohio State's unlikely National Championship run. He capped off his breakthrough season with a dominating performance in the Fiesta Bowl. Peterson is a versatile lineman that could legitimately line up at either DT or DE in a 4-3. He would serve a dual purpose for the Giants, in the best case scenario providing a huge presence at DE oppposite Michael Strahan while also acting as insurance at DT in case Keith Hamilton fails to return from his torn achilles tendon.
    • Needs: DL, LB, OL, WR
    • Hope might be available: DE C Kelsay, LB T Pierce
    • Other Options: LB EJ Henderson, DE C Redding
    .
  26. San Francisco 49ers

    QB Rex Grossman - Florida

    Jeff Garcia is 33 years old and Tim Rattay does not look to ever be more than a journeyman backup. Although the Niners would probably like a more mobile QB, Grossman is a pretty good fit for the west coast offense. He is an accurate passer that understands the game and can make all the required throws. Grossman's lack of prototypical height should not be much of an issue in the Niners scheme.
    • Needs: DL, OT, CB, WR
    • Hope might be available: DT K Peterson
    • Other Options: DE C Redding
    .
  27. Pittsburgh Steelers

    S Troy Polamalu - USC

    The Steelers desperately need to add speed and athleticism to their defensive backfield. Polamalu ran two sub-4.4 forties at his on campus workout. His vertical jump was 43� inches and his long jump was 10'7". Polamalu has a reputation as a leader and a hard worker. He is a physical player that was utilized more like an extra linebacker than a traditional safety in Pete Carroll's scheme at USC. Although his coverage skills are still raw, there is really no reason with his athleticism and work ethic that he should be unable to develop into a solid pass defender. Polamalu's main drawback is a lack of protypical height at 5'10". His vertical leap somewhat offsets that concern.
    • Needs: CB, S, OT, DE, QB
    • Hope might be available: CB D Weathersby, CB A Woolfolk
    • Other Options: DB R Mathis, QB C Simms, trade down
    .
  28. Tennessee Titans

    WR Taylor Jacobs - Florida

    Taking Jacobs of the board at this spot instead of Kelley Washington goes against conventional wisdom. The Titans have been conservative in the past, most notably selecting Kevin Dyson over Randy Moss in 1998. Jacobs has proven to be a durable receiver, missing only 2 games due to injury in his 4 year Gator career. He possesses a nice combination of size, speed, hands, and route running ability.
    • Needs: WR, CB, RB, OLB
    • Hope might be available: RB L Johnson
    • Other Options: DB R Mathis, K Washington
    .
  29. Green Bay Packers

    QB Chris Simms - Texas

    Simms is one of the most interesting prospects in the draft. He has prototypical QB skills, but a reputation for being unable to win the big game. Some scouts feel more inclined to blame the Texas coaching staff than Simms himself for that shortcoming. Simms has lived with the pressure of being Phil Simms' son so the added pressure of being Brett Favre's replacement should not really be much of an issue.
    • Needs: LB, QB, DT, OL
    • Hope might be available: DE C Kelsay
    • Other Options: LB EJ Henderson, DE C Redding, DT T Warren
    .
  30. Philadelphia Eagles

    TE Jason Witten - Tennessee

    Witten is the best all around TE available in this years draft. He is a tenacious blocker with the speed and hands to be a major component in the passing game. Witten is actually still learning the TE position after moving from DE as a sophomore. Chad Lewis is starting to slow down and Witten would provide Donovan McNabb with a much needed weapon.
    • Needs: DE, TE, WR, OG, LB
    • Hope might be available: DE C Kelsay, LB T Pierce
    • Other Options: LB EJ Henderson, DE C Redding
    .
  31. Oakland Raiders

    DE Cory Redding - Texas

    Redding is a bit of an enigma on the field. A physically gifted player that looked like he should be dominant on the college level, Redding had a tendency to disapear during stretches of games. He could legitimately drop out of the top 50 after being thought of as possibily a top 10 talent entering the season. Redding is a first rounder because of the Raiders acute need at the DE position plus their belief that they can get the most out of a physically gifted underacheiver.
    • Needs: DE, FS, RB, WR, OG
    • Hope might be available: no one in particular
    • Other Options: WR B Johnson, DB R Mathis
    .
  32. Oakland Raiders (from Tampa Bay)

    WR Kelley Washington - Tennessee

    Washington is a major wild card in this draft. He is a top athlete that spent time in the Florida Marlins system. Some scouts thought he outplayed 2002 first rounder Donte Stallworth during the 2001 season. Washington suffered a neck injury in October that required spinal fusion surgery. He has been medically cleared to play, but the injury and Washington's perceived attitude problems will be a concern for some teams. The Raiders are in a position to gamble on his obvious talent.
    • Hope might be available: no one in particular
    • Other Options: WR B Johnson, DB R Mathis

Round 2

  1. Cincinnati Bengals - S Mike Doss - Ohio St
  2. Detroit Lions - LB EJ Henderson - Maryland
  3. Chicago Bears - QB Dave Ragone - Louisville
  4. Houston Texans - OT Wayne Hunter - Hawaii
  5. Arizona Cardinals - DE Nick Eason - Clemson
  6. Dallas Cowboys - RB Lee Suggs - Virginia Tech
  7. Jacksonville Jaguars - WR Bryant Johnson - Penn St
  8. Minnesota Vikings - DB Rashean Mathis - Bethune Cookman
  9. Baltimore Ravens - OT George Foster - Georgia
  10. Seattle Seahawks - DE DeWayne White - Louisville
  11. St Louis Rams - LB Chaun Thompson - West Texas A&M .
  12. Washington Redskins

    DT Ty Warren - Texas A & M

    Warren fills a major need and is an excellent value at this spot. He is a talented player with an impressive combination of size and quickness that only needs to improve his conditioning and consistentcy. Athough this pick makes perfect sense it is hard to shake the nagging suspicion that with their first pick in the draft the Redskins will be unable to fight the inclination to add another offensive toy for Spurrier.
    • Needs: DT, S, LB, DE
    .
  13. Carolina Panthers - CB Sammy Davis - Texas A & M
  14. San Diego Chargers - DT Rien Long - Washington St
  15. Kansas City Chiefs - RB Justin Fargas - USC
  16. Buffalo Bills - WR Brandon Lloyd - Illinois .
  17. Miami Dolphins

    OT Jon Stinchcomb - Georgia

    The Dolphins are looking for a blind side pass protector that can step into the lineup immediately. Stinchcomb started 46 games in his college career. Considered a bit undersized after playing at about 285 pounds, Stinchcomb solidified his draft status at the combine by weighing 302 pounds and doing 32 reps of the 225 pound bench. Stinchcomb is an intelligent player known for his solid technique and excellent footwork. He is the brother of Raiders OT Matt Stinchcomb.
    • Needs: OT, OLB, S, WR, QB
    .
  18. New England Patriots - DE Calvin Pace - Wake Forrest
  19. Denver Broncos - CB Kevin Garrett - SMU
  20. New Orleans Saints - TE Dallas Clark - Iowa
  21. New York Jets - S Julian Battle - Tennessee
  22. Cleveland Browns - C Jeff Faine - Notre Dame .
  23. Atlanta Falcons

    S Ken Hamlin - Arkansas

    The Falcons only have one pick on the first day and need to find some immediate help for their depleted secondary. Hamlin is a big, rangy, hard hitting safety with solid coverage skills. There is really little question about Hamlin's ability on the field, but two drunk driving arrests in the span of 14 months before the start of last season could scare some teams away.
    • Needs: DB, OL, DL, WR
    .
  24. New York Giants - DE Tyler Brayton - Colorado
  25. San Francisco 49ers - OT Brett Williams - Florida St
  26. Indianapolis Colts - LB Nick Barnett - Oregon St .
  27. Pittsburgh Steelers

    RB Musa Smith - Georgia

    I am not convinced that a RB will be selected by the Steelers on the first day, but if Smith falls to pick 59 he will be very difficult to pass up. Smith declared for the draft as a true junior and will not turn 21 until May. He is a big back measuring 6'1", 231 pounds that ran a 4.45 and 4.50 forty at Georgia's pro day. Smith combines size and power with the ability to turn the corner. He would provide an immediate compliment to Amos Zereoue and projects as a feature back in the future. Although not known as a receiver, Smith managed 44 career receptions for 436 yards. A lack of durability is the main knock on Smith. I am not sure if that criticism is really fair. Smith did miss significant time due to injury as a sophomore, but impressed as a freshman and carried the full time load as a junior.
    • Hope might be available: S J Battle, CB K Garrett
    • Other Options: LB T Banta-Cain, CB D Florence, LB A Peek
    .
  28. Tennessee Titans - CB Eugene Wilson - Illinois
  29. Philadelphia Eagles - DE Tully Banta-Cain - California
  30. Philadelphia Eagles (from GB) - WR Tyrone Calico - Middle Tenn St
  31. Oakland Raiders - OG Vince Manuwai - Hawaii .
  32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    RB Onterrio Smith - Oregon

    Smith is a versatile back with explosive speed that based on talent alone is a borderline first rounder. He is available at this spot because of off the field issues. Smith was kicked off Tennessee after testing positive for marijuana and was arrested for drunk driving not long after arriving at Oregon. Coming off a Super Bowl victory with their first pick at the end of the second round the Buccaneers are in a position to take a gamble.
    • Needs: OL, FS, CB, RB, OLB

Round 3

  1. Cincinnati Bengals - OG Torrin Tucker - Southern Miss
  2. Detroit Lions - RB Willis McGahee - Miami (Fla)
  3. Houston Texans - LB Antwan Peek - Cincinatti
  4. Chicago Bears - OT Tony Pashos - Illinois
  5. Dallas Cowboys - TE Bennie Joppru - Michigan
  6. Arizona Cardinals - WR Sam Aiken - North Carolina
  7. Minnesota Vikings - WR Kevin Curtis - Utah St
  8. Jacksonville Jaguars - LB Gerald Hayes - Pittsburgh
  9. Seattle Seahawks - OG Montrae Holland - Florida St
  10. St Louis Rams - TE/WR Teyo Johnson - Stanford
  11. New England Patriots (from Was) - LB Bradie James - LSU
  12. Carolina Panthers - TE Robert Johnson - Auburn
  13. Baltimore Ravens - WR Anquan Boldin - Florida St
  14. New Orleans Saints (from KC) - DT Jarrett Johnson - Alabama
  15. Buffalo Bills - CB Rod Babers - Texas
  16. San Diego Chargers - S Charles Tillman - La Lafayette
  17. Washington Redskins (from NE) - DE Kenny King - Alabama
  18. Denver Broncos - S Terrence Holt - North Car St
  19. New Orleans Saints - LB Shurron Pierson - South Florida
  20. Miami Dolphins - WR Kareem Kelly - USC
  21. Houston Texans - RB Chris Brown - Colorado
  22. Cleveland Browns - CB Drayton Florence - Tuskegee
  23. New York Jets - WR Walter Young - Iowa
  24. Houston Texans (from Atl) - DB Bryan Scott - Penn St
  25. San Francisco 49ers - DE Kindal Moorehead - Alabama
  26. Indianapolis Colts - TE LJ Smith - Rutgers
  27. New York Giants - WR Doug Gabriel - Central Florida .
  28. Pittsburgh Steelers

    CB Donald Strickland - Colorado

    Strickland is the type of player the Steelers seem to gravitate towards on draft day. He is not quite big enough at 5'10". He lacks blazing speed, running 4.54 and 4.56 forties at the combine. The thing is, Strickland can play. He is an aggressive, physical corner that always seems to be around the football. He even did a rather impressive 16 bench press reps at the combine. Strickland managed to start 36 games in his career despite missing time as a freshman due to a shoulder injury and as a sophomore due to a concussion.
    • Hope might be available: TE B Joppru, OLB S Pierson
    • Other Options: S N Asomugha, RB C Sapp
    .
  29. Tennessee Titans - RB Cecil Sapp - Colorado St
  30. Green Bay Packers - LB Clifton Smith - Syracuse
  31. Philadelphia Eagles - OG Wade Smith - Memphis
  32. Oakland Raiders - S Nnamdi Asomugha - California
  33. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - C Al Johnson - Wisconsin

Second Day

4.125 Pittsburgh Steelers
  • DL Terrence Martin - North Carolina St

    A prototypical two-gap lineman. Martin is a fundamentally sound tackler that is strong at the point of attack. He measured 6'3", 299 pounds at the combine and threw up 30 bench press reps at 225 pounds. Immediately provides a reliable backup for Casey Hampton. He is capable of playing DE on running downs. Martin would provide a nice compliment to Rodney Bailey opposite Aaron Smith when Kimo von Oelhoffen eventually departs.
    Other Options:
    • NT Colin Cole - Iowa
    • S Terrance Kiel - Texas A&M
    • OLB/S Cie Grant - Ohio St
    • TE Mike Pinkard - Arizona St
    • 5.163 Pittsburgh Steelers QB Seneca Wallace - Iowa St

    The safe pick here would be Brian St. Pierre, but I just have a feeling about Wallace. He was an early Heisman candidate that fell out of the running after several subpar performances. Wallace has shown solid QB skills at the Senior Bowl, the combine, and Iowa State's pro day. In addition to being a superior athlete, he is an intelligent player with enough arm strength to make all the throws required at the pro level. The problem of course is that Wallace lacks prototypical height. He was measured at 5'11", 196 pounds in Indianapolis. Wallace could also be a factor early in his career as a 5th receiver. Although not as quick or explosive as Antwaan Randle El, he did run 4.55 and 4.50 forties at the combine.
    Other Options:
    • DE Antonio Garay - Boston College
    • QB Brian St. Pierre - Boston College
    • DE Osi Umenyiora - Troy St
    • OLB Jimmy Wilkerson - Oklahoma
    6.200 Pittsburgh Steelers CB Michael Lehan - Minnesota

    Lehan has a nice size/speed ratio. He ran 4.51 and 4.56 forties at the combine while carrying 198 pounds on his 5'11�" frame. Lehan is another player that fits the Steeler profile. He was a team co-captain in a major conference program that always gave maximum effort. Although Lehan is a solid value in round 6, he is more player than athlete and his ability to cover top flight pro receivers has to be considered a bit of a question mark.
    Other Options:
    • OLB Kai Ellis - Washington
    • DE Akbar Gbaja-Biamila - San Diego St
    • S Derek Pagel - Iowa
    • QB Tony Romo - Eastern Illinois
    7.242 Pittsburgh Steelers OLB Shantee Orr - Michigan

    A redshirt junior that should have stayed in school, Orr has sort of gotten lost in the shuffle. He played DE at Michigan, but at 6'1" and 255 pounds really has no place in the pros except as a 3-4 OLB project. Orr was timed at 4.8 and 4.6 in the forty at Michigan's pro day. He did a solid 4.0 shuttle and an acceptable 6.9 cone drill. Orr also did an impressive 28 reps of 225 pounds. He is a high ceiling, high risk player that is worth taking a flier on this late in the draft.
    Other Options:
    • CB Blue Adams - Cincinatti
    • QB Curt Anes - Grand Valley St
    • TE Sean Berton - North Carolina St
    • S Curry Burns - Louisville
    • DE David Upchurch - West Virginia
    Like this? Share it with friends: