Washington Post Mock Draft

[Hercules Rockefeller]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...nguage=printer

NFL Draft Predictions
First-Round Projection
Tuesday, March 29, 2005; 1:30 PM


There are rumblings around the league about a possible trade in which the San Francisco 49ers would send the top overall choice to the San Diego Chargers for quarterback Philip Rivers. The 49ers would get a QB prospect who perhaps is better than any in this draft, and the Chargers would end up with three first-round picks after going 12-4 and winning the AFC West title last season. The 49ers have denied that the trade is being discussed. But if it were to happen, it would further jumble the top of the draft, perhaps something like this . . .

1. Chargers (from 49ers via trade) -- Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan (4*) . . . They can part with Rivers because Drew Brees blossomed into a Pro Bowl QB last season, and they get the player at the top of many teams' draft boards.

2. Dolphins -- Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn (2) . . . Coach Nick Saban says he'd take back Ricky Williams. But could he ever depend on Williams?

3. Browns -- Aaron Rodgers, QB, Cal (1) . . . The draft's top-rated QB, just ahead of Alex Smith, falls to No. 3 with the 49ers-Chargers trade.

4. Bears -- Carnell (Cadillac) Williams, RB, Auburn (8) . . . With Edwards off the board and WR Mike Williams perhaps too similar to Muhsin Muhammad, the Bears opt for an upgrade at RB.

5. Buccaneers -- Cedric Benson, RB, Texas (5) . . . They need a centerpiece runner.

6. Titans -- Adam (Pac-Man) Jones, CB, West Virginia (6) . . . A perfect replacement for Samari Rolle.

7. Vikings -- Mike Williams, WR, USC (7) . . . The pressure would be on to replace Randy Moss, but he'd be a perfect WR complement to Nate Burleson.

8. Cardinals -- Alex Smith, QB, Utah (3) . . . They can't pass if one of the QBs falls to them.

9. Redskins -- Antrel Rolle, CB, Miami (9) . . . They need a No. 1 receiver, but they might need a CB even worse.

10. Lions -- Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas (12) . . . There are some questions about his ability and willingness to take on blockers head-on.

11. Cowboys -- Troy Williamson, WR, South Carolina (11) . . . Perhaps a bit of a stretch at No. 11, but he's a receiver with big-play capabilities.

12. Chargers -- Shawne Merriman, DE, Maryland (10) . . . Merriman is in demand as an off-the-edge pass rusher who could play DE or outside LB.

13. Texans -- Alex Barron, T, Florida State (14) . . . They need a tackle after failing in their pursuit of Orlando Pace.

14. Panthers -- Mark Clayton, WR, Oklahoma (19) . . . Carolina gets a receiver after releasing Muhammad in a salary-cap move.

15. Chiefs -- Erasmus James, DE, Washington (17) . . . The Chiefs get much-needed help on defense.

16. Saints -- Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn (15) . . . This draft is full of intriguing prospects at CB.

17. Bengals -- Marcus Spears, DE, LSU (21) . . . Cincinnati is building a formidable young defense.

18. Vikings -- Travis Johnson, DT, Florida State (18) . . . Minnesota continues to bolster its defense after getting a receiver with the first of its two opening-round picks.

19. Rams -- Jammal Brown, T, Oklahoma (13) . . . Pace stayed, but Kyle Turley probably will have to be replaced.

20. Cowboys -- Demarcus Ware, LB, Troy State ( -- ) . . . He's moving up draft boards quickly as an outside pass rusher.

21. Jaguars -- Dan Cody, DE, Oklahoma (16) . . . Jacksonville needs to stabilize the DE position after being plagued by injuries and a lack of depth at the spot last season.

22. Ravens -- Channing Crowder, LB, Florida (20) . . . The club's once-imposing LB corps isn't quite as overwhelming any more.

23. Seahawks -- Shaun Cody, DT-DE, USC (23) . . . A solid, versatile player.

24. Packers -- David Pollack, DE, Georgia (22) . . . A defensive play-maker.

25. Broncos -- Brodney Pool, S, Oklahoma ( -- ) . . . It will be interesting to see if Pool or Georgia's Thomas Davis is the first safety taken.

26. Jets -- Khalif Barnes, T, Washington (24) . . . They lost a starting tackle, Kareem McKenzie, to the Giants in free agency.

27. Falcons -- Roddy White, WR, Alabama-Birmingham ( -- ) . . . Atlanta needs help at WR with Peerless Price's inconsistencies.

28. Chargers -- Darryl Blackstock, LB, Virginia (31) . . . Not a bad first-round haul for San Diego under this scenario.

29. Colts -- Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska (32) . . . One of the fastest players in the draft.

30. Steelers -- Heath Miller, TE, Virginia (26) . . . Clearly the best tight end available.

31. Eagles -- Matt Roth, DE, Iowa ( -- ) . . . Philadelphia lost a DE that it wanted to keep, Derrick Burgess, in free agency.

32. Patriots -- Barrett Ruud, LB, Nebraska (29) . . . Champs need to do some patching up at LB, CB and along the offensive line.

*Draft slot in The Post's previous mock draft.

Dropped Out: Thomas Davis, S, Georgia (25); Reggie Brown, WR, Georgia (27); Vincent Jackson, WR, Northern Colorado (28); Anttaj Hawthorne, DT, Wisconsin (30).



The SD-SF trade isn't happening though

[SoCalBronco]

big reach for Pool at 25 even for an odd numbered year broncos draft.

[NFLBRONCO]

How good is Roddy White? I'd love Pool if we traded down first

[Breck Bronc]

If the Chargers add Edwards, Merriman, and Blackstock to a team that already won the division without giving up any starters you can just pencil them in as the AFC West champ once again. In that scenario we'd get Brodney Pool, the 2004 Cleveland defensive line and a battle for last place.

[SoCalBronco]

i actually like the three cleveland DL especially Warren. Bring back Ellis Johnson to be the other DT and still draft a DE first to rotate in the two spots with Palepoi, Brown and Ekuban. Although i still think San Diego will win the division. Three way race for second with Oakland currently with a small lead over us.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

Although i still think San Diego will win the division.

Call me skeptical. Brees hadn't done anything until last year, both lines overachieved, and like Brees, Gates has only done it once too. Let's see them recreate it on the field before they deserve any hype.

[TexanBob]

I see the Washington Post has sportswriters as clueless as their editorial board.

The Rivers trade will NEVER happen because the Chargers can't afford the cap hit when all of Rivers' bonus money hits the Chargers salary cap at one time, not to mention what it will cost to sign three first-round draft choices on top of that. Morons!

And it seems obvious that they, and many other idiots, think the only position the Texans are looking at in the first round is offensive tackle because of the Pace thing. What good is it going to do for David Carr to break in his third rookie LT in four years? The Texans pursued Pace because he was Orlando Pace and they hoped they could use the signing deadline to pressure the Rams into trading a franchise player without paying the franchise rate (two #1s). It didn't work out. The Texans do have offensive line problems but a rookie LT is not going to solve them.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Originally Posted by TexanBob

The Rivers trade will NEVER happen because the Chargers can't afford the cap hit when all of Rivers' bonus money hits the Chargers salary cap at one time, not to mention what it will cost to sign three first-round draft choices on top of that. Morons!

Don't forget that it also backs them into a corner with what they'll have to give Brees

[longtimer]

If Barnes is there at 25 I see denver taking him. Lepsis contract is voided next year.

[Ray Finkle]

Except for a few Washington Post Sports writers, most are useless....

[Beantown Bronco]

Yet another draft with Baas not mentioned in the first (or even in the list of those dropping to the first few picks in the second)....and people are calling me crazy for wanting to be greedy, trading down a little, and picking him up.

[Ray Finkle]

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

Yet another draft with Baas not mentioned in the first (or even in the list of those dropping to the first few picks in the second)....and people are calling me crazy for wanting to be greedy, trading down a little, and picking him up.

The Dave and I agree with you but I doubt Baas will go in the first. He is an early second type...

[bendog]

gonna be a DE/WR/CB dominant first round regardless. It's almost trade up for one of those before a real run starts, or trade down to get Baas early in the second, or Elton Brown if he's gone.