SI.com on if the 1st round of the '04 draft was held today

[Bearcat729]

And I think they are out of their minds.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...aft/index.html

Don Banks' Revised Draft
Rank Team
1 New York Giants
BEN ROETHLISBERGER, QB, Miami (Ohio)
Original pick: Eli Manning
That's right, we're starting off with a trade, but not the one that wound up going down on draft day. We've got the No. 1 Chargers and No. 4 Giants swapping places for this simple reason: If San Diego knew quarterback Drew Brees was going to play as well as he has this season, as he approaches free agency, there's no way it would have chosen to sink all that money into Philip Rivers. So give the Giants the quarterback who's doing it now, and let some one else roll the dice on Eli Manning.

2 Oakland Raiders
ROY WILLIAMS , WR, Texas
Original pick: Robert Gallery
Robert Gallery has been fine as a rookie, but the Raiders love speed guys, and Williams has clearly been the draft's most impressive receiver. With him on board, to go with Doug Gabriel, Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry, Oakland would be loaded at a position that would allow it to feature that stretch-the-field vertical passing game that Al Davis loves so much. And yes, we know head coach Norv Turner runs the West Coast offense, but this is still Big Al's team and always will be.

3 Arizona Cardinals
ELI MANNING, QB, Mississippi
Original pick: Larry Fitzgerald
OK, Dennis Green. We like some of Josh McCown's qualities, too. But he's shown himself to be a middle-of-pack quarterback at best. You didn't want to take a franchise quarterback at No. 3 the first time around, but you might as well, as much as you had to pay receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Besides, you don't have a choice this time. It's Manning, and I'd advise you to not take any calls from his father.

4 San Diego Chargers
ROBERT GALLERY, OT, Iowa
Original pick: Philip Rivers
With Brees holding the fort down nicely at quarterback, the Chargers can afford to address their sorry state of affairs at offensive tackle. Maybe Gallery hasn't wowed people yet, but he's still going to be a 10-year starter for somebody. Might as well keep the kid in California, because he's already got the necessary West Coast 'tude.

5 Washington Redskins
PHILIP RIVERS, QB, North Carolina State
Original pick: Sean Taylor
A no-brainer. Have you seen Mark Brunell and Patrick Ramsey's less-than-passing impression of a quarterback this year? If they chose Rivers today, he could be starting in time for Sunday's game at Philadelphia.

6 Cleveland Browns
JONATHAN VILMA, LB, Miami
Original pick: Kellen Winslow Jr.
The Chosen One, tight end Kellen Winslow, got hurt before he could contribute. We're all about winning now, playing now and producing now. Given Cleveland's situation at linebacker, Vilma, who has been a man in the middle for the Jets, is too good to pass up. Plus he's a University of Miami guy, and Butch Davis loves those. Vilma climbs five spots from No. 12 in the first round.

7 Detroit Lions
LARRY FITZGERALD, WR Pittsburgh
Original pick: Roy Williams
We're going to let the Lions swap spots with the Browns again, and with Roy Williams already off the board, give Detroit the other big, tall receiver who goes up and gets the ball. After a slow start due to injury, Fitzgerald (32 catches for 465 yards and three touchdowns) is starting to make things happen.

8 Atlanta Falcons
DUNTA ROBINSON, CB, South Carolina
Original pick: DeAngelo Hall
DeAngelo Hall just recently got on the field after being hurt in the preseason. So we'll give the first-place Falcons the draft's most productive cornerback. Robinson has three picks for the Texans, and hasn't looked overmatched yet.
9 Jacksonville Jaguars
MICHAEL CLAYTON, WR, LSU
Original pick: Reggie Williams
The Jags have gotten just 18 catches for 150 yards out of receiver Reggie Williams. Clayton, who went 15th to in-state rival Tampa Bay, has been the real deal, with a team-high 48 catches for 685 yards and three touchdowns.
10 Houston Texans
SEAN TAYLOR, S, Miami
Original pick: Dunta Robinson
We still think Taylor is going to be a play-making machine, but after a stellar preseason in Washington, he's just starting to show up on the stat sheet. He needs to grow up a bit, but if we can get him away from that D.C. nightlife, that should help. The Texans can use him with their safety issues.

11 Pittsburgh Steelers
KELLEN WINSLOW, TE, Miami
Original pick: Ben Roethlisberger
OK, here's our thinking: The Steelers got so ridiculously lucky having Roethlisberger fall to them at No. 11 in the real draft, they can't possibly top that in our revisionist draft. So we're giving them a pick in Winslow who they will have gotten next to nothing out of in his rookie season. See how that balances out?

12 New York Jets
KARLOS DANSBY, LB, Auburn
Original pick: Jonathan Vilma
With no Vilma on the board, we'll award the Jets our first really big climber, Dansby. He went with the first pick of the second round, No. 33, to Arizona. But his play has warranted a rise of 21 spots to New York. He has been making plays all over the place for the much-improved Cardinals defense, with four sacks, three fumble recoveries and one interception.

13 Buffalo Bills
KEARY COLBERT, WR, USC
Original pick: Lee Evans
Nobody's saying the Bills aren't happy with Evans, who has 17 catches for 336 yards and two touchdowns so far. But Colbert, the 62nd overall pick, by Carolina, has really shined in his opportunity to replace the injured Steve Smith. The former USC receiver has 31 receptions for 510 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Remember, we're all about first-year production here.

14 Chicago Bears
MATT SCHAUB, QB, Virginia
Original pick: Tommie Harris
We know the Bears have Rex Grossman as their quarterback of the future. But he's hurt. And Schaub, a third-round pick of Atlanta's, lit it up in the preseason, looking poised and precise in the West Coast offense. Reporters even asked Falcons head coach Jim Mora if Schaub's play had given him any reason to consider replacing Michael Vick. Besides, how much longer can the Craig Krenzel magic last?

15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
STEVEN JACKSON, RB, Oregon State
Original pick: Michael Clayton
He's still the first running back to be selected, but he wasn't about to last until St. Louis at No. 24 in our draft. Jackson gives the Bucs instant production at a position in which they have had to endure Charlie Garner's season-ending injury and Michael Pittman's three-game suspension.

16 Philadelphia Eagles
VINCENT WILFORK, DT, Miami
Original pick: Shawn Andrews
The Eagles haven't been doing much run-stuffing this season, so let's give them Wilfolk, a wide-body who could help Philly plug up its most glaring hole as it makes that Super Bowl run. Guard Shawn Andrews was hurt in preseason and never made a 2004 impact.

17 Denver Broncos
D.J. WILLIAMS, LB, Miami
Original pick: D.J. Williams
Surprised you with the status quo, didn't we? Williams has been superb for the Broncos, and many believe he's headed for the defensive rookie of the year honor. We could have bumped him up to the No. 12 spot to the Jets, and given Denver Dansby, but you've got to shake things up once a while to keep those Internet readers on their toes. At least that's what my editors keep yapping about.

18 New Orleans Saints
TOMMIE HARRIS, DT, Oklahoma
Original pick: Will Smith
Harris tumbles four spots, from Chicago's No. 14 slot, and he really doesn't deserve to. His 3½ sacks lead all rookie defensive tackles and he's been a nice cog in the resurgent Bears defense. But the Saints are so disappointed with last year's No. 1, defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, that we're giving them Harris and hoping to salve the wound.

19 Miami Dolphins
KEVIN JONES, RB, Virginia Tech
Original pick: Vernon Carey
Now, let's see. What position did the Dolphins lose some depth at after the draft and before the season started? Seems to me that somebody retired, but I can't place the name at the moment. Ricky something, I think. Jones will help just a tad more than guard Vernon Carey, whose rookie contribution has been non-existent.

20 Minnesota Vikings
CHRIS GAMBLE, CB, Ohio State
Original pick: Kenechi Udeze
The Vikings lost nickel back Ken Irvin in pregame warmups on opening day, and when has Minnesota not needed more help in the secondary? Gamble is going to be a player in this league for a long time, and despite Carolina's awful, injury-plagued season, he has been a bright spot amid the gloom.

21 New England Patriots
GIBRIL WILSON, S, Tennessee
Original pick: Vince Wilfork
With all their injuries in the secondary, the Patriots could really use this play-making rookie. Don't get hung up on him playing strong safety, Rodney Harrison's position. In New England, every part is interchangeable. A fifth-round pick of the Giants, Wilson has all but wiped veteran safety Shaun Williams off the depth chart. He has three sacks, three picks and a team-leading 56 tackles.

22 Buffalo Bills
Craig Krenzel, QB, Ohio State
Original pick: J.P. Losman
You?re scoffing, right? Krenzel, a fifth-round pick of the Bears, in the first round? Well, look here. He?s 3-0 as a starter in Chicago, and while his numbers aren?t much to brag about, he?s not losing games. That kind of quarterbacking would play pretty well in Buffalo these days, where the defense is superb and Drew Bledsoe needs to be put out of his misery. J.P. Losman got himself hurt this preseason. Otherwise the Bills' reality pick might have fit nicely here.

23 Seattle Seahawks
LEE EVANS, WR, Wisconsin
Original pick: Marcus Tubbs
Since that Jerry Rice midseason acquisition hasn't exactly solved all their receiving problems, we're going with Evans to the Seahawks. That's a fall of 10 spots for Evans, who was taken 13th by Buffalo, a little high based on his production compared to other rookie receivers. With Koren Robinson facing a four-game suspension, Evans plays right away in Seattle.

24 St. Louis Rams
CHRIS SNEE, G, Boston College
Original pick: Steven Jackson
The Rams offensive line needs help. No Kyle Turley. Grant Williams is hurt. And so is Chris Dishman. Snee has been solid enough, and he can slide right into the lineup at left guard, in place of Dishman. Plus, this gets Snee out of the potentially sticky situation of playing for Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who is also the grandfather of the baby he and Coughlin's daughter had together.
25 Green Bay Packers
RICARDO COCLOUGH, CB, Tusculum (Tenn.)
Original pick: Ahmad Carroll
The pickings are slim at cornerback, but with veteran Willie Williams taking over for injured starter Chad Scott in Pittsburgh, Colclough, the Steelers' second-round pick, has fared pretty well in nickel-back duty. All we know is this: If the Packers could make their Ahmad Carroll selection over again, they probably wouldn't.

26 Cincinnati Bengals
MEWELDE MOORE, RB, Tulane
Original pick: Chris Perry
Chris Perry has amassed all of 34 yards of offense for the Bengals, and we're sure that's not what they were thinking when they took the Michigan standout and declared him their third-down back. Moore, a steal by Minnesota in the fourth round, fits the bill much better as a complement to starter Rudi Johnson, who is eligible for free agency in the spring.

27 Houston Texans
DeANGELO HALL, CB, Virginia Tech
Original pick: Jason Babin
Since we took Dunta Robinson from the Texans earlier in the first round, we feel compelled to give them the best available cornerback with their second pick. Hall was hurt for most of the season's first half in Atlanta, but he's back now and the Texans could use his superb coverage skills.

28 Carolina Panthers
DARIUS WATTS, WR, Marshall
Original pick: Chris Gamble
With no Keary Colbert around (we gave him to Buffalo at No. 13), the Panthers turn to Watts, who opened eyes during the preseason and has put together a solid first year in Denver, catching 22 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown. He's no Steve Smith, but who is?

29 Atlanta Falcons
TONY HARGROVE, DE, Georgia Tech
Original pick: Michael Jenkins
The Falcons missed out on this Georgia Tech product in the real draft, but we're not letting him slip to the third round this time. The Rams took him in April, believing his speed-rushing skills were unrefined, yet rare. For a Falcons defense already exceeding expectations, he's just another weapon for the arsenal.

30 Detroit Lions
REGGIE WILLIAMS, WR, Washington
Original pick: Kevin Jones
He's not the receiver named R. Williams that the Lions really want, but Roy Williams is long gone to No. 2 Oakland in our do-over draft. Detroit doesn't need any more receivers you say? With Charles Rogers, Az-Zahir Hakim and Tai Streets all hurt, sure they do.

31 San Francisco 49ers
J.P. LOSMAN, QB, Tulane
Original pick: Rashaun Woods
The 49ers have gone through some quarterbacks the past couple of years, so we'll toss them Losman and hope he has a little Joe Montana magic lurking in him. Tim Rattay and Ken Dorsey seem to be taking turns getting hurt, and Losman, picked No. 22 by Buffalo, already has his major injury out of the way this season. Makes sense to me.

32 New England Patriots
B.J. Sams, RB-KR, McNeese State
Original pick: Benjamin Watson
We know he didn't grade out at first-round talent. Heck, he didn't grade out at seventh-round talent, because the Ravens signed him as an undrafted free agent. But Sams would give the Patriots a superb weapon on special teams, and New England is just rich enough in roster depth to get away with such a luxury pick. Sams has two punt returns touchdowns for Baltimore, and one as a reserve running back.

[JasonC23]

I really, truly hope that this weekend's debacle ends all of the "Krenzel just wins, baby!" crap.

And I'm a Bears fan.

[Dutch]

Thanks but no thanks, we'll keep Michael Clayton.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by JasonC23

I really, truly hope that this weekend's debacle ends all of the "Krenzel just wins, baby!" crap.

And I'm a Bears fan.

He almost made it to 200 yards yesterday.

[The_herd]

This draft is a damn joke. Schaub at #14 to the Bears??? Yeah, lets use the 14th pick on a backup quarterback. The Bears would stick with Tommie Harris. He's a perfect fit for the inside of that Defense.

Krenzel wouldn't have improved his draft stock at all with the way he's played. He's not a good QB. You sir are an idiot for having him in the first round.

B.J. Sams still goes nowhere near the 1st round.

I'd be surprised if anyone other than Denny Green had Fitz over Clayton

[Radii]

That list is pretty inane and difficult to follow, but I suppose I am quite pleased that the first two Panthers picks are listed much higher than actually selected.

[WSUCougar]

Good thing I wasn't drinking anything, because it'd be coming out of my nose after this point:

22 Buffalo Bills Craig Krenzel, QB, Ohio State

Among other things, there's gotta be a rule somewhere that you can't spend a 1st round draft pick on anyone with a last name like one of Santa's elves.

[DaddyTorgo]

Yeah I think we'll pass on Gibril and Sam and stick with Wilfork and the (injured) Ben Watson. Thanks but no thanks Don Banks. We're plenty happy with a run-stuffer of our own here in NE and a guy who when healthy will give us legitimately the best 1-2 TE combo in the NFL for Charlie Weiss!

[Desnudo]

Watson was looking really good until he got hurt.

[DaddyTorgo]

Yeah. He was. And Daniel Graham I think is starting to live up to his promise. He's becoming quite the go-to guy in the red zone. Could leave us with a really nice situation in a couple years with a couple great TE's, having to choose who to hold onto and maybe who to swing for draft picks?

[Mr. Wednesday]

Well, part of the premise of the article is that we can't stick with Wilfork because the Eagles took him earlier.

[bhlloy]

Did people miss the part where he says repeatedly this is only based on 2004 production. Purely on this years production BJ Sams certainly isn't a reach in the first round. Neither is Krenzel really... he's winning games which is more than Manning, Rivers or Losman are doing.

Based on potential yes, not a good first round. But that's not what he's trying to do.

(If anybody replies with anything along the lines of "dude you suck. Manning/Rivers/Losman are going to be a million times the QB that Krenzel is" I'll tear my hair out)

The Matt Schaub pick I will grant you is total bullshit, anyway you look at it. Bizarre.

[The_herd]

Please tell me which part of Krenzel's stats warrent 1st round consideration. Is it his 45% completion percentage? His 3 touchdowns and 6 interceptions? His 5.74 average per attempt? His 51.7 rating? Or is it the fact that the defense is very good and the schedule has been kind to the Bears in recent weeks?

If he claims its based on production, Krenzel has no business being on this list.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by The_herd

Please tell me which part of Krenzel's stats warrent 1st round consideration. Is it his 45% completion percentage? His 3 touchdowns and 6 interceptions? His 5.74 average per attempt? His 51.7 rating? Or is it the fact that the defense is very good and the schedule has been kind to the Bears in recent weeks?

If he claims its based on production, Krenzel has no business being on this list.

High score on the Solesmic Test?

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by The_herd

Please tell me which part of Krenzel's stats warrent 1st round consideration. Is it his 45% completion percentage? His 3 touchdowns and 6 interceptions? His 5.74 average per attempt? His 51.7 rating? Or is it the fact that the defense is very good and the schedule has been kind to the Bears in recent weeks?

If he claims its based on production, Krenzel has no business being on this list.

Not only that, he also said, "Besides, how much longer can the Craig Krenzel magic last?" on the Bears pick.

[bhlloy]

I hadn't realised Krenzel had been that bad. Still by default he's outproduced 50% of the QB's drafted above him by virtue of actually playing (and winning - he's performed badly but not badly enough to cost his team games. That's something I guess )

[Pyser]

wow, 3 current giants in the revised first round...thats just odd.

[sovereignstar]

I just think it's a dumb premise and it has very little value except to start useless controversy. Who drafts looking for first-year production anyways, but a few teams?

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by The_herd

This draft is a damn joke. Schaub at #14 to the Bears??? Yeah, lets use the 14th pick on a backup quarterback. The Bears would stick with Tommie Harris. He's a perfect fit for the inside of that Defense.

I was amused by the Colts-Bears final score yesterday after Harris shot off his mouth off about not being afraid of the Colts offense last week. Maybe a little fear is good...