Clint Rusch
Editor: Ryan R. Bonini
March 07.2002
 
 

POS	NFL TEAM	PLAYER	POS	COLLEGE
1	Houston Texans	David Carr	QB	Fresno State
Texans management has become enamored with Carr's maturity and his arm, and plans on building the franchise around him.
2	Carolina Panthers	Julius Peppers	DE	North Carolina
In any other year, Peppers would be the No. 1. He's a physical freak, a DE in the Jevon Kearse mold, but bigger and stronger than Kearse.
3	Detroit Lions	Roy Williams	S	Oklahoma
The Lions' secondary last year was atrocious. Williams is a huge, vicious hitter who will shore up the weakest part of the Lion defensive unit.
4	Buffalo Bills	Joey Harrington	QB	Oregon
The Bills figured out that QB Rob Johnson wasn't the answer. They'll go with Harrington, whose mobility, arm, and leadership have wowed the Bills front office.
5	San Diego Chargers	Bryant McKinnie	OT	Miami (FL)
After questions about Mike Williams' knee cause his stock to slip, the Chargers select Bryant McKinnie, the best overall OT in the draft.
6	Dallas Cowboys	Quentin Jammer	CB	Texas
After finding no takers for their pick, the Cowboys select a shutdown corner ... one who's already from Texas.
7	Minnesota Vikings	Mike Williams	OT	Texas
His knee questions cause him to slide to No. 7, but Williams will be gone here, as the Vikings need to jump-start their running game ... a fantastic blocker will help.
8	Kansas City Chiefs	Wendell Bryant	DT	Wisconsin
After his amazing workout on March 6, Bryant's stock has shot up. The Chiefs like his versatility, and Dick Vermeil will love his amazing work ethic and motor.
9	Jacksonville Jaguars	Ashley Lelie	WR	Hawaii
After the WR R. Jay Soward fiasco, the Jags have learned that character counts. They'll bypass the more skilled Antonio Bryant for Lelie, who's a class act.
10	Cincinnati Bengals	Phillip Buchanon	CB	Miami (FL)
The Bengals have said they won't deal the pick for QB Drew Bledsoe, of the New England Patriots. They choose to go with a player who can start right away.
11	Indianapolis Colts	Ryan Sims	DT	North Carolina
The Colts get a standout defensive lineman who was actually the best every down lineman last season for the Tar Heels.
12	Arizona Cardinals	Albert Haynesworth	DT	Tennessee
Haynesworth is a steal at No. 12. He's young, has tremendous instincts, and has nothing but upside.
13	New Orleans Saints	John Henderson	DT	Tennessee
The Saints are pleased to select a DT who can stuff the run as well as collapsing the pocket, and will pair him with DT Norman Hand for a formidable interior line.
14	New York Giants	Jeremy Shockey	TE	Miami (FL)
Shockey's selection drastically upgrades the Giant passing game, which was dismal last season ... especially the TE position.
15	Tennessee Titans	Toniu Fonoti	OG/OT	Nebraska
Fonoti is a stud with a lot of upside, and with the uncertainty of Bruce Matthews' situation, the Titans need a new OG. Fonoti can also be switched outside if needed.
16	Atlanta Falcons	Antonio Bryant	WR	Pittsburgh
The Falcons are attracted to the idea of a stud WR like Bryant, and head coach Dan Reeves will likely be able to control his dysfunctional nature.
17	Cleveland Browns	William Green	RB	Boston College
The Browns keep the pick, rather than dealing it to New Orleans, and select their RB of the future in Green, who's absurdly strong.
18	Washington Redskins	Jabar Gaffney	WR	Florida
Since Steve Spurrier is assembling Gainesville North, it makes sense that he'll grab another Gator weapon to line up for the 'Skins.
19	Denver Broncos	Dwight Freeney	DE	Syracuse
Denver's D-Line is aging, and Freeney's youth and athleticsim will be a perfect match. He also helps their anemic pass rush.
20	Seattle Seahawks	Daniel Graham	TE	Colorado
Mike Holmgren needs an upgrade at TE, and Graham is it. He's got great hands and will fit in well in Holmgren's scheme.
21	Oakland Raiders (Compensation for Jon Gruden)	Kalimba Edwards	DE	South Carolina
Edwards is a bit of a tweener, with the potential to fall through the cracks. He'll play DE for the Raiders, though, and will provide an insurance policy for Trace Armstrong, who is trying to return from a torn Achilles' tendon.
22	New York Jets	Donte Stallworth	WR	Tennessee
The Jets like the idea of Stallworth and Laveranues Coles as their WR duo. So will Vinny Testaverde, and then Chad Pennington.
23	Oakland Raiders	Napoleon Harris	LB	Northwestern
The Raiders need a LB. Harris is the only 1st Rd caliber LB, and will be a Raider. He's a playmaker with great lateral speed.
24	Baltimore Ravens	Josh Reed	WR	LSU
Brian Billick will want to surround his QB, whoever it will be, with weapons. Reed will be one of them.
25	New Orleans Saints (Proj. trade with Miami)	Andre Gurode	OG	Colorado
After dealing RB Ricky Williams to the Dolphins, the Saints upgrade their offensive line, helping to fill the holes in the unit.
26	Philadelphia Eagles	Ed Reed	S	Miami (FL)
Reed is a solid safety, and his selection by the Eagles will help their secondary adjust to the loss of Damon Moore.
27	San Francisco 49ers	Marquis Walker	WR	Michigan
Walker is a perfect pick for the 49ers. He's got amazing hands, and the current Niner WRs, with the exception of WR Terrell Owens, don't.
28	Green Bay Packers	Dennis Johnson	DE	Kentucky
The Packers decide not to go WR in the 1st Rd, despite the need there, and decide instead to upgrade their pass rush with Johnson.
29	Chicago Bears	Levi Jones	OT	Arizona State
Jones' athleticism (a former D-Lineman) impresses the Bears, who see him as the eventual replacement for the Big Cat.
30	Pittsburgh Steelers	Derek Ross	CB	Ohio State
The Steelers grab Ross, a corner with perfect size and shutdown skills, who will start as the nickel back, but will move to a starter probably within his first year.
31	St. Louis Rams	Reche Caldwell	WR	Florida
With WR Az-Zahir Hakim's departure all but assured, the Rams need a new burner. Caldwell is that guy.
32	New England Patriots	Jerramy Stevens	TE	Washington
Stevens' impressive bowl game will bolster his draft selection. The 6-7 target will become well acquainted with Tom Brady's end zone tosses.