Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 4/22/05 Section: Full Contact

Only one true statement can be said about the upcoming NFL draft: It is going to be a crapshoot. Unlike previous years of the draft where there was a clear-cut number one and, sometimes, two and three pick, there is no telling who will be taken, anywhere. For the sake of keeping things simple, I am going to focus on the first five picks.

With the first overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft (to be held April 23-24 in New York City), the San Francisco 49ers will most likely select Aaron Rodgers (quarterback, California). Why Aaron Rodgers over Utah's QB, Alex Smith? Personally, I think that Smith is a better choice. At 6-foot-4 and 217 pounds, he has a much larger frame for the NFL. He also ran a 4.71 40-yard time, let only three passes out of 80 touch the ground in his combine workout, and acquired an economics degree in just two years while holding a GPA of 3.74. Rodgers, however, has extreme accuracy and although he may not be more of an athlete than Smith, he has been working out of a similar system at Cal to that of the Niners. San Francisco needs help in more than one area and anyone they draft will greatly improve the team. I just think Smith would improve it more, so maybe Coach Nolan knows something I don't.

At number two, I see Ronnie Brown, the running back out of Auburn, going to the Miami Dolphins. He has the edge over Cadillac Williams (RB Auburn), and Cedric Benson (RB Texas), because he is an all-down back, meaning he can run the ball on first and second down, as well as catch it on third and long. At 230-plus pounds, he also has the ability to break weak tackles and block blitzing linebackers. In short, he's an all-down back that can get you 25 or more carries and 10 catches a game. Another possibility is a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who want to trade up to get Alex Smith at number two and give up a couple of lower picks, something the Dolphins desperately need. However, this will only occur if Tampa gets Travis Henry from Buffalo.

The number three pick belongs to the Cleveland Browns. The most likely candidate is the loser of the battle at number one. Ranking in the bottom eight in pass and run offense, the Browns need a quarterback who can make something happen. The best possible outcome for Cleveland would be for Alex Smith to drop into their lap, a guy that can get the job done with his arm, brain and legs. Smith would be ideal for the Browns, who have an abysmal offensive line, because of his scrambling abilities.

Chicago will most likely take Benson with the fourth pick. I put Benson as the number two back because he has great vision, size and speed, and blocks better than the other two previously mentioned backs. However, he doesn't catch quite as well as Brown, and would probably have to come out on third down at times.

Lastly, we have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at number five. With a bottom-five run offense, they will be looking to get Auburn's Carnell Williams, a pure and gifted runner who can carry the load at least 30 times per game. If Williams doesn't produce on the ground or develop catching abilities, his NFL career may be short lived.

Though these are the most likely outcomes for the first five picks, I can see Mike Williams (wide receiver USC) or Derek Johnson (linebacker Texas) going at any one of the first five spots. Don't forget the first three picks belong to first-year head coaches, and there is no telling what they may do. Mike Williams is almost too great of an athlete and offensive factor to pass up and Johnson is the only all-star LB in the draft. Mike Williams will most likely fall to either Minnesota at number seven or Washington at nine. After Johnson there are no great LBs, so if they plan on getting a linebacker and they pass up Johnson, the next guy will probably be a second-rate defender, unlike the quarterbacks' situation, where you can get a good one in any of the first three rounds, most of whom have fairly equal abilities (Jason Campbell, Auburn; David Greene, Georgia; Charlie Fry, Akron; Danny Wimprine, Memphis; Stefan LeFors, Louisville; Andrew Walters, Arizona State; Kyle Orton, Purdue). When Romeo Crennel, the Browns' new coach and defensive specialist, has to decide whom to pick, don't be surprised if he decides to build a defense around Johnson. He has won three Super Bowls with the same idea at New England. However, Johnson will most likely fall to my beloved Detroit Lions at the 10 spot.

Michael Michel's picks for the entire first round of the 2005 NFL Draft:

Draft Order Michael Michel's Picks
1. San Francisco 49ers Aaron Rodgers, QB California
2. Miami Dolphins Ronnie Brown, RB Auburn
3. Cleveland Browns Alex Smith, QB Utah
4. Chicago Bears Cedric Benson, RB Texas
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Carnell Williams, RB Auburn
6. Tennessee Titans Antrel Rolle, CB Miami (FL)
7. Oakland Raiders Mike Williams, WR USC
8. Arizona Cardinals Derrick Johnson, LB Texas
9. Washington Redskins Braylon Edwards, WR Michigan
10. Detroit Lions Pac-Man Jones, CB West Virginia
11. Dallas Cowboys Carlos Rodgers, CB Auburn
12. San Diego Chargers Troy Williamson, WR South Carolina
13. Houston Texans Ernest Shazor, S Michigan
14. Carolina Panthers Elton Brown, OG Virginia
15. Kansas City Chiefs Mark Clayton, WR Oklahoma
16. New Orleans Saints Shawne Merriman, LB Maryland
17. Cincinnati Bengals Jammal Brown, OT Oklahoma
18. Minnesota Vikings Thomas Davis, S Georgia
19. St. Louis Rams David Pollack, DE Georgia
20. Dallas Cowboys Erasmus James, DE Wisconsin
21. Jacksonville Jaguars Marlin Jackson, CB Michigan
22. Baltimore Ravens Roddy White, WR UAB
23. Seattle Seahawks Marcus Spears, DE LSU
24. Green Bay Packers Dan Cody, DE Oklahoma
25. Denver Broncos Travis Johnson, DT Florida
26. New York Jets Justin Miller, CB Clemson
27. Atlanta Falcons Alex Barron, OT Florida State
28. San Diego Chargers Brodney Pool, S Oklahoma
29. Indianapolis Colts Matt Roth, DE Iowa
30. Pittsburgh Steelers Heath Miller, TE Virginia
31. Philadelphia Eagles Matt Jones, WR-QB Arkansas
32. New England Patriots Odell Thurman, ILB Georgia

Printed from www.fantasyfootballjungle.com

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools