2000 NFL Draft

[miami_fan]

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/years/2000

Since it is draft week, time to evaluate the 2000 draft.

Who is the steal of the draft?
Who is the biggest bust?
What grade would you give your team now?

For me

Biggest Steal (not named Tom Brady)-Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Biggest Bust - (tie) Sylvester Morris, R. Jay Soward
Miami Dolphins grade- F Not one player from the 2000 draft is still on the team! :mad:

[Ksyrup]

Not a stellar top 15, all things considered.

[Blackadar]

Egads.

Biggest Bust: DE Courtney Brown, Cleveland. Followed closely by Ron Dayne, RB NYG.
Biggest Steal: (78) N.Y. Jets Laveranues Coles WR Florida State followed by 168 New Orleans Marc Bulger QB West Virginia

As for the grade I'd give the Steelers...hmmm...

1 8 Plaxico Burress WR Michigan State (good player but not worthy of the #8 pick, lost in FA this year)
2 38 Marvel Smith T Arizona State (good player, starter)
3 72 Kendrick Clancy NT Mississippi (no longer on team)
3 77 Hank Poteat CB Pittsburgh (no longer on team)
4 103 Danny Farmer WR UCLA (no longer on team)
5 137 Clark Haggans OLB Colorado State (starting LB)
5 163 Tee Martin QB Tennessee (no longer on team)
6 173 Chris Combs DE Duke (no longer on team)
6 204 Jason Gavadza TE Kent State (no longer on team)

Two starters (3 if you count Plex), but no one else. C-.

[wade moore]

For my skins:

1 2 LaVar Arrington OLB Penn State (Still hasn't shown his full potential, only glimpses. Hasn't proven to me that he is worth a #2)
1 3 Chris Samuels T Alabama (Had an off year in 2003, but picked it up again in 2004. Overall a relatively solid pick)
3 64 Lloyd Harrison CB North Carolina State (Don't belive he is on the team)
4 129 Michael Moore G Troy State (If he is on the team, he hardly plays)
5 155 Quincy Sanders DB Nevada-Las Vegas (No longe ron team)
6 202 Todd Husak QB Stanford (No longer on team)
7 216 Delbert Cowsette DT Maryland (No longer on Team)
7 250 Ethan Howell WR Oklahoma State (No longer on Team)


Wow... not good...

[Balldog]

Bust: Ron Dayne, 11th to NYG
Steal: Tom Brady, 199th to NE

Patriots:
Overall pretty horrible, Brady and Pass are both starters but most of these guys are out of the league. So they hit gold on their 7th pick (6th Rd) and did ok on their 10th pick (7th Rd), I'd give a C- to D+.

46 New England Adrian Klemm T Hawaii
76 New England J.R. Redmond FB Arizona State
127 New England Greg Randall T Michigan State
141 New England Dave Stachelski TE Boise State
161 New England Jeff Marriott G Missouri
187 New England Antwan Harris FS Virginia
199 New England Tom Brady QB Michigan
201 New England David Nugent DE Purdue
226 New England Casey Tisdale DE New Mexico
239 New England Patrick Pass FB Georgia

[TroyF]

Denver:

(1) 15 Denver Deltha O'Neal CB California
40 Denver Ian Gold OLB Michigan
45 Denver Kenoy Kennedy SS Arkansas
70 Denver Chris Cole WR Texas A&M
101 Denver Jerry Johnson DT Florida State
112 Denver Cooper Carlisle G Florida
154 Denver Muneer Moore WR Richmond
189 Denver Mike Anderson FB Utah
214 Denver Jarious Jackson QB Notre Dame
246 Denver Leroy Fields WR Jackson State

-----------------------------------------------

Really, it isn't that bad. O'Neal had a great year here, then failed miserably. He seems to have found a home in Cincy. Gold is a starter here (after a one year leave with TB). Kennedy did start before signing with Detroit where he'll start. Carlisle is still here and plays every game. (4 starts last year). Mike Anderson is arguably the steal of the draft. He's been an all pro FB and a 1,500 yard rusher. Still with the team. Even Jarius stuck around for awhile. If only Cole could have stayed healthy. . .

I'll give em something in the B- to B range.

[rkmsuf]

2000
Rd Sel# Player Pos. School
2 46 Adrian Klemm T Hawaii
3 76 J.R. Redmond FB Arizona State
4 127 Greg Randall T Michigan State
5 141 Dave Stachelski TE Boise State
5 161 Jeff Marriott G Missouri
6 187 Antwan Harris FS Virginia
6 199 Tom Brady QB Michigan
6 201 David Nugent DE Purdue
7 226 Casey Tisdale DE New Mexico
7 239 Patrick Pass FB Georgia


Obviously Brady makes the whole draft but outside of Patrick Pass it's a lot of floatsum and jetsum.

[Cringer]

I miss Ron Wolf. Stock up on late rounders and you are sure to get a couple real good guys out of those picks. To bad neither of those DT's worked out.

Green Bay Packers

14 Green Bay Bubba Franks TE Miami
44 Green Bay Chad Clifton T Tennessee
74 Green Bay Steve Warren NT Nebraska
98 Green Bay Na'il Diggs OLB Ohio State
114 Green Bay Anthony Lucas WR Arkansas
126 Green Bay Gary Berry FS Ohio State
149 Green Bay Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila OLB San Diego State
151 Green Bay Joey Jamison WR Texas Southern
224 Green Bay Mark Tauscher T Wisconsin
229 Green Bay Ron Moore DT N.W. Oklahoma
242 Green Bay Charles Lee WR Central Florida
249 Green Bay Eugene McCaslin LB Florida
252 Green Bay Rondell Mealey RB Louisiana State

[Fonzie]

I miss Ron Wolf. Stock up on late rounders and you are sure to get a couple real good guys out of those picks. To bad neither of those DT's worked out.

Green Bay Packers

14 Green Bay Bubba Franks TE Miami
44 Green Bay Chad Clifton T Tennessee
74 Green Bay Steve Warren NT Nebraska
98 Green Bay Na'il Diggs OLB Ohio State
114 Green Bay Anthony Lucas WR Arkansas
126 Green Bay Gary Berry FS Ohio State
149 Green Bay Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila OLB San Diego State
151 Green Bay Joey Jamison WR Texas Southern
224 Green Bay Mark Tauscher T Wisconsin
229 Green Bay Ron Moore DT N.W. Oklahoma
242 Green Bay Charles Lee WR Central Florida
249 Green Bay Eugene McCaslin LB Florida
252 Green Bay Rondell Mealey RB Louisiana State

I miss Ron, too. Hopefully his disciple Ted can eliminate any recurrence of B.J. Sander-ish debacles. :(

[Draft Dodger]

Dallas:

2 CB Dwayne Goodrich
4 CB Karim Larrimore
5 RB Michael Wiley
6 CB Mario Edwards
7 LB Orantes Grant

I believe Mario Edwards is the only guy still in the league, and he isn't with Dallas.
Goodrich was a bust even before he became a killer.

[miked]

Thomas Jones, Peter Warrick and Travis Taylor are pretty large busts as well...

[miked]

Dola-

Man the Jets had a ridiculous draft that year...

Ellis, Abraham, Pennington, Becht, Coles

[JeeberD]

Terrible terrible TERRIBLE draft for the Cowbys...

[General Mike]

Who is the steal of the draft? Tom Brady, besides him maybe Mike Anderson
Who is the biggest bust? FU Ron Dayne
What grade would you give your team now? F-


Giants
11 N.Y. Giants Ron Dayne RB Wisconsin - sucks
42 N.Y. Giants Cornelius Griffin DT Alabama - so inconsistent, had talent tho
73 N.Y. Giants Ron Dixon WR Lambuth - :mad:
105 N.Y. Giants Brandon Short OLB Penn State - good backup type
140 N.Y. Giants Ralph Brown CB Nebraska - bad backup type
177 N.Y. Giants Dhani Jones OLB Michigan - another good backup type
217 N.Y. Giants Jeremiah Parker DE California - who?

None of those guys are still on the Giants. Another fantastic draft by Ernie Accorsi. :rolleyes:

[Breeze]

Atlanta - F-

Rd Sel# Player Pos. School
2 37 Travis Claridge G Southern California
3 67 Mark Simoneau MLB Kansas State
4 100 Michael Thompson T Tennessee State
5 134 Anthony Midget CB Virginia Tech
6 172 Mareno Philyaw WR Troy State
7 211 Darrick Vaughn CB Texas State-San Marcos


Plus the 1st round pick was traded the previous year so Dan Reeves could draft TE Reggie Kelly in the second round of the 1999 draft.

[timmyw3]

Plus the 1st round pick was traded the previous year so Dan Reeves could draft TE Reggie Kelly in the second round of the 1999 draft.

aka Jamal Lewis. Good trade there.

[weinstein7]

Who is the steal of the draft? Tom Brady, besides him maybe Mike Anderson
Who is the biggest bust? FU Ron Dayne
What grade would you give your team now? F-


Giants
11 N.Y. Giants Ron Dayne RB Wisconsin - sucks
42 N.Y. Giants Cornelius Griffin DT Alabama - so inconsistent, had talent tho
73 N.Y. Giants Ron Dixon WR Lambuth - :mad:
105 N.Y. Giants Brandon Short OLB Penn State - good backup type
140 N.Y. Giants Ralph Brown CB Nebraska - bad backup type
177 N.Y. Giants Dhani Jones OLB Michigan - another good backup type
217 N.Y. Giants Jeremiah Parker DE California - who?

None of those guys are still on the Giants. Another fantastic draft by Ernie Accorsi. :rolleyes:

I think you're being a little hard on the Giants. Griffin just got a boatload of money and played very well this season. (Personally, I thought the Giants should have left him outside at DE, where he showed so much promise as a rookie. He couldn't take advantage of his speed as well when he moved inside.) Jones started for a team that made the Super Bowl. Short had been a competent starter for the Giants and I'm sure will be a starter again before long. (I LOVED the Brandon Short pick, before the draft I had been hoping they'd grab him in the third, or even the second.)

As for the two busts, Dayne...well, what can you say? But looking back on it, that was really a pick they HAD to make. They needed another running back to pair with Barber (at the time, nobody thought Barber was an everydown back), Jamal Lewis was already off the board, and Shaun Alexander was too similar to Barber. And I still say that if Dayne had been willing to play FB so they could have put the two of them on the field at the same time, that would have been a dangerous combination.

Dixon was a gamble...I hated it, but who knows what the kid could have done if he had stayed healthy and/or gotten his head on straight. And hey, he did have a TD in the Super Bowl.

All in all, Dayne certainly kills the draft, but I think 3 starters from rounds 2-7 is pretty good.

As for the bust/steal question, I'll go with the majority and say either Courtney Brown or Ron Dayne for biggest bust. As for the biggest non-Brady steal, what about Marc Bulger (6th round), just to throw a new name in the ring?

[streetballer22]

Biggest Bust: Ron Dayne
Biggest Steal: Mike Green, taken with the last pick of th draft!

Bills Picks:
1 26 Erik Flowers - Has done nothing! Terrible Pick, D-
2 58 Travares Tillman - Decent for a backup but not a 2nd rounder, C-
3 89 Corey Moore - Quite sure he is off the team, bad pick!, D
4 121 Avion Black - Off the team now but I beleive he has some potential, D+
5 156 Sammy Morris - Solid player, started for a while, B+
6 194 Leif Larsen - Strongest man in the NFL for a while, not a football player though, D
7 233 Drew Haddad - Cut from the team but I think he is elsewhere in the NFL now, C
7 251 DaShon Polk - Could have done worse here, D+

Overall Grade: D+, not a consistent player in the first four rounds! No starters in the whole draft!

[Logan]

49ers:

Rd Sel# Player Pos. School
1 16 Julian Peterson OLB Michigan State (starter, great player)
1 24 Ahmed Plummer CB Ohio State (starter, solid coverman)
2 35 John Engelberger DE Virginia Tech (starter, though an average player)
2 48 Jason Webster CB Texas A&M (former starter, lost in FA)
3 65 Giovanni Carmazzi QB Hofstra (never played, but they loved this kid at the time)
3 86 Jeff Ulbrich ILB Hawaii (starter, very solid LB)
4 108 John Keith SS Furman (started a few games, provided good depth)
5 132 Paul Smith FB Texas-El Paso (never much of a contributor)
5 150 John Milem DE Lenoir-Rhyne (never much of a contributor)
7 212 Tim Rattay QB Louisiana Tech (i guess a solid pick since he was technically a starter, and may be again this season)
7 230 Brian Jennings TE Arizona State (nothing)

Overall, a solid, B+ draft. Only thing keeping it from an A was the inability to get a QB of the future. The Niners actually held the #3 pick this year, but traded it to Washington for the #16 and #24 as they couldn't afford a high pick and needed players.

[General Mike]

I think you're being a little hard on the Giants. Griffin just got a boatload of money and played very well this season. (Personally, I thought the Giants should have left him outside at DE, where he showed so much promise as a rookie. He couldn't take advantage of his speed as well when he moved inside.) Jones started for a team that made the Super Bowl. Short had been a competent starter for the Giants and I'm sure will be a starter again before long. (I LOVED the Brandon Short pick, before the draft I had been hoping they'd grab him in the third, or even the second.)

As for the two busts, Dayne...well, what can you say? But looking back on it, that was really a pick they HAD to make. They needed another running back to pair with Barber (at the time, nobody thought Barber was an everydown back), Jamal Lewis was already off the board, and Shaun Alexander was too similar to Barber. And I still say that if Dayne had been willing to play FB so they could have put the two of them on the field at the same time, that would have been a dangerous combination.

Dixon was a gamble...I hated it, but who knows what the kid could have done if he had stayed healthy and/or gotten his head on straight. And hey, he did have a TD in the Super Bowl.

All in all, Dayne certainly kills the draft, but I think 3 starters from rounds 2-7 is pretty good.

As for the bust/steal question, I'll go with the majority and say either Courtney Brown or Ron Dayne for biggest bust. As for the biggest non-Brady steal, what about Marc Bulger (6th round), just to throw a new name in the ring?

I think you're nuts if you think Ron Dayne could have played FB. He never showed he could be average in block pickup and he can't catch the ball. The fact that no one from that draft is still on the team says it all.

[Ksyrup]

The fact that no one from that draft is still on the team says it all.
I don't think it's fair to judge a draft in that way, at least when talking about players who contributed, but moved on in FA. I think Pittsburgh, for example, should get full credit for Burress (as much as he's worth, anyway), and that draft shouldn't be discounted because he left. You're only guaranteed to have the players you drafted for the length of their contracts...

[weinstein7]

I think you're nuts if you think Ron Dayne could have played FB. He never showed he could be average in block pickup and he can't catch the ball. The fact that no one from that draft is still on the team says it all.

I think that if Dayne had WANTED to learn how to play FB, he could have done it. I don't think Dayne's problem was so much a lack of ability as the fact that he was a big baby. Doesn't change the fact that the pick was a bust of course.

And as for no one still being on the team...Griffin left not because he wasn't good enough to stay, but because he got more money somewhere else. Doesn't mean that it was a bad pick. And you could make similar arguments for Jones and Short - yeah the Giants decided they weren't good enough to start, but I'm sure they would have loved to have brought them back as back-ups/special teams if other teams hadn't offered them more money/playing-time.

[paperstreetsoap]

Who is the steal of the draft? Dante Hall (pick 153)
Who is the biggest bust? Thomas Jones (pick 7)
What grade would you give your team now?
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">4</td><td align="left">Cincinnati</td><td align="left">Peter Warrick</td><td align="left">WR</td><td align="left">Florida State</td></tr></tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">34</td><td align="left">Cincinnati</td><td align="left">Mark Roman</td><td align="left">SS</td><td align="left">Louisiana State</td></tr></tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">66</td><td align="left">Cincinnati</td><td align="left">Ron Dugans</td><td align="left">WR</td><td align="left">Florida State</td></tr></tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">97</td><td align="left">Cincinnati</td><td align="left">Curtis Keaton</td><td align="left">RB</td><td align="left">James Madison</td></tr></tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">133</td><td align="left">Cincinnati</td><td align="left">Robert Bean</td><td align="left">CB</td><td align="left">Mississippi State</td></tr></tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">169</td><td align="left">Cincinnati</td><td align="left">Neil Rackers</td><td align="left">K</td><td align="left">Illinois</td></tr></tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">210</td><td align="left">Cincinnati</td><td align="left">Brad St. Louis</td><td align="left">TE</td><td align="left">S.W. Missouri</td></tr></tbody> </table>
I'd give Cincy a D. Only Warrick is still with us (maybe St. Louis as placeholder?), and he never did pan out like we had hoped, although he had a great 2003 campaign, but now with an injury he will probably never be the same. The rest were largely backups for us.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Biggest Bust: Courtney Brown (#1 overall).
Biggest Steal: KGB (5th round)

Detroit Lions: C-
<TABLE borderColor=#c0c0c0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=1><TBODY><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>1</TD><TD class=body align=right>20</TD><TD class=body>McDougle, Stockar (http://www.detroitlions.com/bio.cfm?bio_id=58&season=6)</TD><TD class=body>T</TD><TD class=body>Oklahoma - OK tackle who never lived up to expectations. Now with Miami</TD></TR><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>2</TD><TD class=body align=right>50</TD><TD class=body>Green, Barrett</TD><TD class=body>LB</TD><TD class=body>West Virginia - Decent speed and played well during his final year. Had a poor season with the Giants last year.</TD></TR><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>3</TD><TD class=body align=right>81</TD><TD class=body>Droughns, Reuben</TD><TD class=body>RB</TD><TD class=body>Oregon - Could be the best player the Lions drafted. Of course they released him. But is he a product of the Denver scheme or is he the real deal? We'll find out this year in the Land of Cleves.</TD></TR><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>4</TD><TD class=body></TD><TD class=body style="mso-ignore: colspan" colSpan=3>Choice to Philadelphia</TD></TR><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>5</TD><TD class=body align=right>145</TD><TD class=body>Franz, Todd</TD><TD class=body>CB</TD><TD class=body>Tulsa - Did nothing. Out of the NFL.</TD></TR><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>6</TD><TD class=body align=right>181</TD><TD class=body>Reese, Quinton</TD><TD class=body>DE</TD><TD class=body>Auburn - Did nothing. Out of the NFL.</TD></TR><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>7</TD><TD class=body align=right>253</TD><TD class=body>Boone, Alfonso</TD><TD class=body>DT</TD><TD class=body>Mt. San Antonio - Did nothing. Out of the NFL.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

An "ok" first half of the draft. All three players are still in the NFL and are somewhat productive. The second day was horrendous. None of those three players amounted to anything. This was during the pre-Millen era. It gives you an idea of just what kind of crap Millen was given to work with. The Lions are a much better organization now than they were 5 years ago. Still, that aint saying much.

[Raven Hawk]

Thomas Jones, Peter Warrick and Travis Taylor are pretty large busts as well...
I'll go with you on Warrick and Taylor, but I think the jury is still out on Jones. He seemed to be having a pretty good year last year until he came up lame. Perhaps it is the Cardinals system that screwed him up.

[JeeberD]

Doesn't Jones play for the Bears now, RH?

[Masked]

<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="bg0" align="left"><td class="bg0" colspan="5">New Orleans Saints</td><td valign="top">
</td> </tr><tr class="bg1" align="left"><td>Rd (http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/years/2000)</td><td>Sel#</td><td>Player</td><td>Pos. (http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/positions/years/2000)</td><td>School</td><td valign="top">
</td> </tr><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">2</td><td align="right">33</td><td align="left">Darren Howard</td><td align="left">DE</td><td align="left">Kansas State</td><td align="left" valign="top">Franchise player
</td> </tr><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">4</td><td align="right">96</td><td align="left">Terrelle Smith</td><td align="left">FB</td><td align="left">Arizona State</td><td align="left" valign="top">Excellent blocking FB
</td> </tr><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">5</td><td align="right">131</td><td align="left">Tutan Reyes</td><td align="left">G</td><td align="left">Mississippi</td><td align="left" valign="top">Never did much with the Saints - now in Carolina
</td> </tr><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">5</td><td align="right">158</td><td align="left">Austin Wheatley</td><td align="left">TE</td><td align="left">Iowa</td><td align="left" valign="top">Never did much
</td> </tr><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">5</td><td align="right">166</td><td align="left">Chad Morton</td><td align="left">RB</td><td align="left">Southern California</td><td align="left" valign="top">Good special teams player
</td> </tr><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">6</td><td align="right">168</td><td align="left">Marc Bulger</td><td align="left">QB</td><td align="left">West Virginia</td><td align="left" valign="top">Horrible with the Saints.
</td> </tr><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">6</td><td align="right">195</td><td align="left">Michael Hawthorne</td><td align="left">CB</td><td align="left">Purdue</td><td align="left" valign="top">Started several games with the Saints and Packers. Big ego.
</td> </tr><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">6</td><td align="right">200</td><td align="left">Sherrod Gideon</td><td align="left">WR</td><td align="left">Southern Mississippi</td><td align="left" valign="top">Out of the league
</td> </tr><tr class="bg2" align="right" height="17" valign="middle"><td align="left">7</td><td align="right">228</td><td align="left">Kevin Houser</td><td align="left">C</td><td align="left">Ohio State</td><td align="left" valign="top">One of the best long snappers in the league
</td> </tr></tbody> </table>
This was the year after the Ricky Williams trade fiasco. Overall it looks like a pretty good draft. Two starters with the top two picks (Smith is with the Browns now). Most of the lower picks are still in the league and contributing.

[General Mike]

I'll go with you on Warrick and Taylor, but I think the jury is still out on Jones. He seemed to be having a pretty good year last year until he came up lame. Perhaps it is the Cardinals system that screwed him up.

I don't think I'd say Warrick was a bust either. He hasn't lived up to his hype, but he wasn't R. Jay Soward either.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Doesn't Jones play for the Bears now, RH?
Yeah, but I think RH was implying that by saying he was doing well last year (before the injury) with the Bears and that his prior struggles (in Airzona) could, in part, have been to their system.

[Ksyrup]

I don't think I'd say Warrick was a bust either. He hasn't lived up to his hype, but he wasn't R. Jay Soward either.
Putting aside that punt return for a TD I remember seeing, the last memorable play I recall from Warrick as a WR was his lay-out TD catch against VT.

[Bearcat729]

Biggest steal not named Tom Brady - Dante Hall
Biggest bust - Courtney Brown.

Rate your teams Draft
1 Courtney Brown DE - Could have been very good, injuries held him back.
2. Dennis Northcutt WR - Talented WR still with team, but overpaid
3. Travis Prentice RB - Now with Arizona
4. JaJuan Dawson WR - Not sure if he's still in the league
5. Lewis Sanders CB - Now with Houston
6. Aaron Shea TE - Still with team, has shown some ability to play
7. Anthony Malbrough CB - Not sure if he is still in the league
8. Lamar Chapman CB - Not sure if he still plays
9. Spergon Wynn QB - Not sure if he still plays
10. Brad Bedell T - Who?
11. Manuia Savea G - Who? May still be with the team
12. Eric Chandler DE - Who?
13. Rashidi Barnes FS - Who?


I don't think there is a rating low enough for the Browns draft. What a waste. Brown has shown some ability to play when healthy, and Shea did ok when called on last year with the injury to Kellen Winslow. But 1 player out of 13 picks is still with the team and he's a 3rd receiver( Who thinks he is a #1)

[Desnudo]

Bust: Ron Dayne, 11th to NYG
Steal: Tom Brady, 199th to NE

Patriots:
Overall pretty horrible, Brady and Pass are both starters but most of these guys are out of the league. So they hit gold on their 7th pick (6th Rd) and did ok on their 10th pick (7th Rd), I'd give a C- to D+.

46 New England Adrian Klemm T Hawaii
76 New England J.R. Redmond FB Arizona State
127 New England Greg Randall T Michigan State
141 New England Dave Stachelski TE Boise State
161 New England Jeff Marriott G Missouri
187 New England Antwan Harris FS Virginia
199 New England Tom Brady QB Michigan
201 New England David Nugent DE Purdue
226 New England Casey Tisdale DE New Mexico
239 New England Patrick Pass FB Georgia

I believe Klemm starts on the o-line for Green Bay. So he turned out all right. Besides that, ugh. Especially J.R. Redmond. Of course Brady makes the draft an "A" in my eyes.

[mrsimperless]

Colts

28 Indianapolis Rob Morris MLB Brigham Young (Still on the roster and has been a starter, albeit a sub-par one for the most part. C-)
59 Indianapolis Marcus Washington OLB Auburn (Was on the roster until last season and was a solid player. Picked up in FA by I believe the Redskins. A)
91 Indianapolis David Macklin CB Penn State (No longer on the roster, but was an average contributor in a bad secondary. C)
122 Indianapolis Josh Williams DT Michigan (Still on the roster as a starter and has been a pretty good player at times. B-)
138 Indianapolis Matt Johnson C Brigham Young (Never heard of him, although we've had a solid center in JEff Saturday for years. F+)
235 Indianapolis Rob Renes DT Michigan (Can't remember this guy ever playing and no longer on the roster. F)
238 Indianapolis Rodregis Brooks CB Ala.-Birmingham (Although the name is vaguely familiar I can't remember this guy ever playing and no longer on the roster. F)

Overall grade: C-

(Maybe I shouldn't give an F for a late rounder that doesn't pan out, as that is usually expected. Oh well.

[Greyroofoo]

The 2000 draft gave the Colts their defensive scapegoat in Rob Morris (albeit he had a good season last year). And Marcus Washington who made the pro bowl last year (albeit for the Redskins).

[Blackadar]

I don't think it's fair to judge a draft in that way, at least when talking about players who contributed, but moved on in FA. I think Pittsburgh, for example, should get full credit for Burress (as much as he's worth, anyway), and that draft shouldn't be discounted because he left. You're only guaranteed to have the players you drafted for the length of their contracts...

I look at it as partial credit. Only getting 4-5 years out of a 1st round draft choice isn't that great.


Also, I don't understand all of these folks picking Dante Hall as a steal. He's a great return man, but how is he a better steal than full-time starters L. Coles (3rd round - 89, 82, 90 catches the last 3 years) or Mark Bulger (Pro-Bowl QB in Round 5)?

[Raven Hawk]

Yeah, but I think RH was implying that by saying he was doing well last year (before the injury) with the Bears and that his prior struggles (in Airzona) could, in part, have been to their system.
True. That was my point. But this might be a point of view thing. To Arizona, Thomas Jones was a bust.

[Yellow5]

Seahawks!

Rd Sel# Player Pos. School
1 19 Shaun Alexander RB Alabama (Still with team)
1 22 Chris McIntosh T Wisconsin (Gone)
2 52 Ike Charlton CB Virginia Tech (Gone)
3 80 Darrell Jackson WR Florida (Still with team)
4 116 Marcus Bell OLB Arizona (Texans)
4 119 Isaiah Kacyvenski OLB Harvard (Still with team)
6 175 James Williams WR Marshall (Gone)
6 185 Tim Watson DT Rowan (Gone)
6 190 John Hilliard DT Mississippi State (Gone)

[RPI-Fan]

Not a stellar top 15, all things considered.

Can't say I agree... Samuels, Lewis, Burress, Urlacher, Abraham, and Franks are all at least borderline All-Pro players. Only guy who isn't really a contributer currently is Brown, the #1.

[streetballer22]

Can't say I agree... Samuels, Lewis, Burress, Urlacher, Abraham, and Franks are all at least borderline All-Pro players. Only guy who isn't really a contributer currently is Brown, the #1.

The Top 15 here is decent but I have to say that Franks should have gone much later, maybe even a second rounder.

[BigJohn&TheLions]

I was just reviewing the 1970 draft. Talk about a shit year... Not ONE of those guys is even still in the league, let alone with the team that drafted him!

[SackAttack]

I don't understand why Bulger is considered a 'steal.' New Orleans didn't do much with him. Did they get any kind of bounty from the Rams for him, or was he just a guy taken low who latched on with another team and blossomed?

Brady qualifies as a steal. A low pick who's become a stud for the team who drafted him.

Bulger? Doesn't, IMO.

[Archer219]

Steal: QB Tom Brady, Michigan, 6th Round (199)
Bust: DE Courtney Brown, Penn St., 1st Round (1)

Since my Pats were already done, I'll do the Eagles:

Rd Sel# Player Pos. School
1 6 Corey Simon DT Florida State B+ (5 year starter, 6 sacks a year average)
2 36 Todd Pinkston WR Southern Mississippi B (Four year starter, only 36 catches per year for the last two years)
2 61 Bobbie Williams G Arkansas C- (Starting guard last year, for the Bengals)
4 99 Gari Scott WR Michigan State F (WHO? Two catches his entire NFL career)
6 171 Thomas Hamner RB Minnesota F (DOUBLE WHO? Couldn't find any stats for this guy)
6 178 John Frank DE Utah D- (Practice squad player for the Giants, in 2003)
6 192 John Romero C California D (One year with the Saints, no game action. According to SI.com he's with the Rams next year)

Overall: C- You're supposed to hit on the first day picks, and the second day picks are nobodies.

[Sharpieman]

49ers:

Rd Sel# Player Pos. School
1 16 Julian Peterson OLB Michigan State (starter, great player)
1 24 Ahmed Plummer CB Ohio State (starter, solid coverman)
2 35 John Engelberger DE Virginia Tech (starter, though an average player)
2 48 Jason Webster CB Texas A&M (former starter, lost in FA)
3 65 Giovanni Carmazzi QB Hofstra (never played, but they loved this kid at the time)
3 86 Jeff Ulbrich ILB Hawaii (starter, very solid LB)
4 108 John Keith SS Furman (started a few games, provided good depth)
5 132 Paul Smith FB Texas-El Paso (never much of a contributor)
5 150 John Milem DE Lenoir-Rhyne (never much of a contributor)
7 212 Tim Rattay QB Louisiana Tech (i guess a solid pick since he was technically a starter, and may be again this season)
7 230 Brian Jennings TE Arizona State (nothing)

Overall, a solid, B+ draft. Only thing keeping it from an A was the inability to get a QB of the future. The Niners actually held the #3 pick this year, but traded it to Washington for the #16 and #24 as they couldn't afford a high pick and needed players.
Brian Jennings was actually a great pick, he's one of the best snappers in the game.

[k0ruptr]

just a second vote for mike green, Mr. Irrelevant turned out very nice.

[MikeVic]

Round 6 seems to be pretty good... the names that I recognize:

Marc Bulger, Paul Edinger, Dhani Jones, Mario Edwards, Adalius Thomas, Mike Anderson, Michael Hawthorne, Matt Bowen, and Tom Brady.

It doesn't mean all of those are great players, but that's a nice percentage of people that I actually recall hearing about last season. :)

[henry296]

I haven't gone through and recorded all of the grades, but most people are giving teams C's. Which team does everyone think had the best draft?

[henry296]

Dola,

Here are my Top 3: Broncos, Packers, Seahawks

[TroyF]

Putting aside that punt return for a TD I remember seeing, the last memorable play I recall from Warrick as a WR was his lay-out TD catch against VT.


Interesting player. Not as explosive as people thought he was, but he's turned into a nice little player. The Bengals really missed him last year. I think in 2003 he led the league in third down receptions for first downs. That helped the Bengals lead the league with a 44%+ third down conversion rate.

He was also badly missed in the red zone for the same reasons.

Had he not been hurt last year, I think he would have topped the 1000 yard mark for the first time in his career.

Don't get me wrong, he was picked a bit high and he's certainly not an all-pro calibur WR. But he is a good player who has a pretty solid skill set, albeit different than the one people thought he had coming into the league with.

Was that even readable? UGH, I need some coffee.

[streetballer22]

Dola,

Here are my Top 3: Broncos, Packers, Seahawks

Check out the Jets draft.

[henry296]

Check out the Jets draft.

I think the Jets are up there in the Top 5. They got quality players at the top of the draft because they had 4 1st rounders. Therefore, I discounted them a bit because I took into account value as well as quality.

[General Mike]

I think the Jets are up there in the Top 5. They got quality players at the top of the draft because they had 4 1st rounders. Therefore, I discounted them a bit because I took into account value as well as quality.

Becht sucks so that brings the Jets grade down.

[timmyw3]

Ravens:

1-5 RB Jamal Lewis
1-10 WR Travis Taylor
3-75 QB Chris Redman
5-148 G Richard Mercier
6-186 LB Adalius Thomas
6-191 DT Cedric Woodard

Overall grade: B

Huge pick with Lewis who, when he's not hurt or in prison, is the most astounding combination of power and speed at the position in the NFL. I remember when the pick was made they were debating between Lewis and Thomas Jones. I think they made the right choice.

Of course they followed that up with Travis Taylor who has been average at best and nowhere near what a 10th overall pick should have contributed, Ravens' vanilla offense aside. His medocrity will be showcase in Minnesota this year.

Redman was at point held in high regard and started a handful of games with varying success but fell out of favor. His nail in the coffin was a truly pathtic performance against the Rams on a Sunday Night game in 03 where he replaced an injured Kyle Boller. I swear he was drunk that night.

Mercier was cut in training camp and may have been on the practice squad for a time.

THe best pick may have been Thomas who has elevated his game from Special Teamer to Pro Bowl Special Teamer. To above average starting LB.

Woodard never panned out with Baltimore but I believe he has carved a nice career for himself in Seattle.

[flere-imsaho]

Chicago Bears:

9 Chicago Brian Urlacher MLB New Mexico - Pretty straightforward here. One of the few 1st round picks in recent history the Bears have gotten right.

39 Chicago Mike Brown FS Nebraska - Started every game since drafted, until injured after 2 games last year. Declining production, but as the defense has gotten better each year, his slice of the pie has decreased. A good pick, perhaps not stellar, but decent.

69 Chicago Dez White WR Georgia Tech - Traded to Atlanta last season. While with Chicago he was generally an OK #2 to Marty Booker (depends on the day Terrell was having, I suppose). Probably not bad value for this position in the draft. Not great, but not terrible either.

87 Chicago Dustin Lyman TE Wake Forest - Not great value. Hasn't done much, and will probably continue to not do much. Probably a bit of a blown pick.

125 Chicago Reggie Austin CB Wake Forest - Played a bit in 2002. Ended up being cut from the Vikings. Wasted pick.

170 Chicago Frank Murphy WR Kansas State - Has spent most of his career with Tampa Bay, mostly as a return specialist. Wasted pick.

174 Chicago Paul Edinger K Michigan State - Very good value, as I think he's a good kicker and should be quality for Chicago for years to come.

223 Chicago James Cotton DE Ohio State - I don't think he's ever played a game in the NFL. Cut from Atlanta in 2004.

254 Chicago Mike Green SS Northwestern State, La. - The last player selected in the 2000 draft, Green (like Brown) has become an important part in the Bears defense. An excellent selection. However, given the Bears ineptitude in the rest of the draft, I'm going to assume they got lucky.

Consensus: 1 Star MLB, 2 starting safeties, 1 decent WR, and one good kicker. No outrageously horribly wasted picks of high value. I'll give them a "B" for 2000.

[Wolfpack]

Anyone want to know why Carolina was 1-15 in 2001? Read on:

1-23 Rashard Anderson, CB, Jackson State (not in NFL)
2-57 Deon Grant, FS, Tennessee (Jacksonville)
3-82 Leander Jordan, T, Indiana (PA) (San Diego)
4-120 Alvin McKinley, DT, Mississippi State (Cleveland)
5-147 Gillis Wilson, DE, Southern (not in NFL)
6-182 Jeno James, G, Auburn (Miami)
7-221 Lester Towns, MLB, Washington (not in NFL)

Nobody on the team left from that draft. Mostly fair to average players still left in the NFL at all. Rashard Anderson busted badly because he kept violating the substance abuse policy. When I compiled this list I could hardly recognize the names of the players. Total suckage.

[General Mike]

Anyone want to know why Carolina was 1-15 in 2001? Read on:

1-23 Rashard Anderson, CB, Jackson State (not in NFL)
2-57 Deon Grant, FS, Tennessee (Jacksonville)
3-82 Leander Jordan, T, Indiana (PA) (San Diego)
4-120 Alvin McKinley, DT, Mississippi State (Cleveland)
5-147 Gillis Wilson, DE, Southern (not in NFL)
6-182 Jeno James, G, Auburn (Miami)
7-221 Lester Towns, MLB, Washington (not in NFL)

Nobody on the team left from that draft. Mostly fair to average players still left in the NFL at all. Rashard Anderson busted badly because he kept violating the substance abuse policy. When I compiled this list I could hardly recognize the names of the players. Total suckage.

I thought Deon Grant was pretty good. Am I confuzzled?

[Wolfpack]

That's true. I did say "mostly". Really, other than Grant, none of these picks have helped the Panthers at all.

[sachmo71]

Interesting article from Joe Bryant's newsletter.


12. Draft Busts: An Overview

Full Article: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05109/490389.stm

Clipped from: Post-Gazette article by Staff, 4/19/05

What makes a bust? Usually, it's a combination of a high pick followed
by poor performance over a short career. Sometimes, it's a pick so
obviously bad when it's made that the team busted, not the player. And
then there are those classics where a team takes a high bust while
passing over a future Hall of Famer, such as Jerry Rice. Here's a look
at some notable draft busts over the past two decades, not necessarily
the biggest busts, but among the more interesting, with their overall
NFL draft position in parenthesis.

QB Ryan Leaf, (No. 2, 1998, Chargers), Washington State: After
debating for months over which quarterback would be taken first, him
or Peyton Manning, Leaf's career lasted about that long, months.

OT Tony Mandarich (2, 1989, Packers) Michigan State: All 'roided up
and ready to go, this Sports Illustrated cover boy had the poor
misfortune of entering the league in the first year it dished out
steroids punishment. Pack bypassed Barry Sanders (3), Derrick Thomas
(4) among others.

QB Akili Smith (3, 1999, Bengals), 1999, Oregon: Cincinnati also
fanned on QB David Klingler with the sixth pick in 1992. Carson Palmer
(1, 2003) became the third QB Bengals drafted in top six in dozen
years.

LB Brian Bosworth (2, 1987, Seahawks), Oklahoma: Three seasons, 24
games, 4 sacks. The only thing his NFL career surpassed was his film
career.

CB Bruce Pickens (3, 1991, Falcons), Nebraska: More like slim Pickens.
Played 5 seasons, had 2 interceptions. Falcons had foresight to draft
Brett Favre in the second round that year, but then traded him to
Green Bay.

RB Alonzo Highsmith (3, Miami, Oilers), RB Brent Fullwood (4, Auburn,
Packers), LB Mike Junkin (5, Duke, Browns) and QB Kelly Stouffer (6,
Colorado State, Cardinals), 1987: All four were mighty busts and the
picks of Junkin and Stouffer came unexpectedly high, which allowed the
Steelers to accept Rod Woodson as a gift at No. 10.

RB Blair Thomas (2, 1990, Jets), Penn State: 2,236 yards rushing in 8
seasons. The first of a trio of big Nittany Lions busts at the
position in the decade. The Bengals drafted Ki-Jana Carter No. 1 in
1995 and the Bears drafted Curtis Enis No. 5 in 1998.

QB Heath Shuler (3, 1994, Redskins), Tennessee: Four seasons, 29
games, 593 passes. Right school, right position, four years too early
for Washington.

QB Andre Ware (7, 1990, Lions), Houston: Four seasons, 14 games, 161
passes. Could have had OT Richmond Webb to block for Barry Sanders.

[flere-imsaho]

I must be getting old, because I remember some of those guys as if it were yesterday.

[ice4277]

Biggest Bust: Courtney Brown (#1 overall).
Biggest Steal: KGB (5th round)

Detroit Lions: C-
<TABLE borderColor=#c0c0c0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=1><TBODY><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>1</TD><TD class=body align=right>20</TD><TD class=body>McDougle, Stockar (http://www.detroitlions.com/bio.cfm?bio_id=58&season=6)</TD><TD class=body>T</TD><TD class=body>Oklahoma - OK tackle who never lived up to expectations. Now with Miami</TD></TR><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>2</TD><TD class=body align=right>50</TD><TD class=body>Green, Barrett</TD><TD class=body>LB</TD><TD class=body>West Virginia - Decent speed and played well during his final year. Had a poor season with the Giants last year.</TD></TR><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>3</TD><TD class=body align=right>81</TD><TD class=body>Droughns, Reuben</TD><TD class=body>RB</TD><TD class=body>Oregon - Could be the best player the Lions drafted. Of course they released him. But is he a product of the Denver scheme or is he the real deal? We'll find out this year in the Land of Cleves.</TD></TR><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>4</TD><TD class=body></TD><TD class=body style="mso-ignore: colspan" colSpan=3>Choice to Philadelphia</TD></TR><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>5</TD><TD class=body align=right>145</TD><TD class=body>Franz, Todd</TD><TD class=body>CB</TD><TD class=body>Tulsa - Did nothing. Out of the NFL.</TD></TR><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>6</TD><TD class=body align=right>181</TD><TD class=body>Reese, Quinton</TD><TD class=body>DE</TD><TD class=body>Auburn - Did nothing. Out of the NFL.</TD></TR><TR height=17><TD class=body align=right height=17>7</TD><TD class=body align=right>253</TD><TD class=body>Boone, Alfonso</TD><TD class=body>DT</TD><TD class=body>Mt. San Antonio - Did nothing. Out of the NFL.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

An "ok" first half of the draft. All three players are still in the NFL and are somewhat productive. The second day was horrendous. None of those three players amounted to anything. This was during the pre-Millen era. It gives you an idea of just what kind of crap Millen was given to work with. The Lions are a much better organization now than they were 5 years ago. Still, that aint saying much.
Totally agree about the Lions front office at this time. No direction or plan whatsoever, at least, not one that made any sense. Droughns, I think, will be found to be basically a product of the system, although it was a definite bonehead move for the Lions to release him when they did, as he was better than any of the alternatives at that time.