2005 NFL Draft Team Needs

Tuesday April 12th, 2005 Page updated at 2:20pm
2005 NFL Draft Team Needs
By: David Bachman
Fantasy Football Editor For WagerOnFootball.com

Here is our final crack at mapping out the 2005 NFL draft, including possible scenarios for each team.

NFL Team	2005 NFL Draft Scenarios - Round 1
	The 49ers are still trying to get a deal done for Smith, but his agent, Tom Condon, who also did the deal last year for Eli Manning (Giants), is understandably not budging. He wants the deal for Smith to follow traditional slotting procedure, which means he's looking for at least a small percentage more than what Manning got from the Giants. If they can't get a deal done with Smith and can't trade down, Rodgers or WR Braylon Edwards become possibilities.
	Running back is the top need, and Ronnie Brown is the most deserving candidate. Other scenarios. Trade down with Buccaneers and still get a running back such as Auburn's Williams. Trade down with Vikings and address the defense – OLB Derrick Johnson (Texas) and DC Antrel Rolle are leading candidates. Draft QB Alex Smith if he doesn't go to the 49ers at No. 1.
	The Browns' draft board starts with Smith and Edwards. If both are gone by No. 3, the Browns will desperately try to trade down. If they do trade down, the team is rumored to have heavy interest in Texas OLB Derrick Johnson and Georgia DE David Pollack. Reportedly, new head coach Romeo Crennel is pushing for Johnson at No. 3, but Savage thinks that's too high. If Smith and Edwards are gone and the Browns can't get a deal done to move down, Johnson is the odds-on favorite to be the pick. If the Browns trade down and Johnson is off the board, Pollack becomes the odds-on favorite. If the Browns trade down and Johnson and Pollack both are off the board, Florida State OT Alex Barron would have to become the priority.
	The Bears pick at #4 comes down to RB Carnell Williams and WR Mike Williams. If Auburn RB Ronnie Brown fell to No. 4, he most likely would be the pick. We're told the team rates Benson over Carnell Williams and Mike Williams over Edwards. If Benson and Mike Williams are both on the board, the Bears would have a tough decision, but we think they are leaning toward Benson. The team also will consider moving down, but the deal would have to be sweet. No matter where they wind up, drafting a playmaker at running back, wide receiver or tight end is a high priority.
	The Buccaneers could go in several directions with this pick, including RB, OT, OG, QB, WR, DT or DB. Other scenarios include getting a reasonable deal done in order to secure QB Smith. At this point, it seems it would require trading up to the No. 1 spot, and that is a highly unlikely scenario. Trade up to the No. 2 overall pick and select RB Brown. Stay at No. 5 and take the best available running back in the following order: Brown, Williams or Benson. Stay at No. 5 and take the best available wide receiver: Edwards or Williams. Stay at No. 5 and draft QB Rodgers. Trade down, acquire even more picks and take the best available RB or WR. Stay at No. 5 and draft a defensive player – OLB Johnson and DC Rolle are leading candidates.
	If our information is correct and Smith becomes the top overall choice, Rodgers could experience a slide down to here at #6 with Tennessee. Other scenarios include selecting WR Mike Williams. Select DC Antrel Rolle. Select DC Adam Jones. Trade down, continue to stockpile draft picks and consider the best prospects at WR (Troy Williamson and Mark Clayton), CB (Carlos Rogers and Marlin Jackson) and OT (Alex Barron and Jammal Brown).
	RB Ronnie Brown is rated ahead of Williamson and Mike Williams, so in the unlikely scenario that he fell, the Vikings would draft Brown, despite their log-jam at running back. • If they get a reasonable deal, they could move into the top five and select WR Edwards, who they rate as the No. 1 WR in this class. • Stay at No. 7 and select WR Mike Williams.
	We still contend the Cardinals and Bills will get a trade done with Buffalo, dealing OT L.J. Shelton for RB Travis Henry, before or on draft day. Other scenarios: • If the Cardinals get a deal done for Henry, they have the luxury of drafting Johnson because they can still draft a quality prospect from a deep cornerback position in the second round. • If they get Henry and wind up drafting Rolle at No. 8, the team would continue to address the defense in the second round. • If they don't get a deal done for a running back, the team would draft its highest-rated prospect at the running back and cornerback positions – RB Brown, DC Rolle, RB Benson, RB Carnell Williams, DC Carlos Rogers and DC Jones.
	Everyone is talking about DC and DL for the Redskins, but we're starting to hear otherwise. The 'Skins are looking for playmakers on offense, and Williams could be the perfect fit as a big, physical receiver opposite the diminutive Santana Moss. • It seems likely the Redskins will trade their newly acquired pick at No. 25 for a veteran defensive back. If that's the case, the team likely will use this selection on a wide receiver. Williamson is another viable option if he's available and Williams is gone. • If no trade is in place, the team could draft the best available cornerback with this pick, in this order: Rolle, Jones or Rogers.
	The Lions are in a great position with this pick. They certainly have bigger needs at right tackle and defensive end, but if a value like Rolle slips to them at No. 10 they'd be crazy not to capitalize. Other scenarios: ·• The Lions can simply sit tight at No. 10 and draft the best available prospect. • Select OLB Johnson. • Select OT Barron. • Select a top pass rushing DE. From what we are hearing, it would be in this order: James, Merriman and Ware.
	The Cowboys are still in pursuit of upgrades at WR, offensive line (ROT) and OLB/DE. Ware's draft stock is skyrocketing after his impressive showing at the combine, and we think he's exactly the type of player coach Bill Parcells is looking for as the defense transitions from a 4-3 to a 3-4. ther scenarios: • Select DE/OLB Merriman. • Select DE James. • Select WR Williamson if he falls and if the pass rusher the team covets most is off the board.
	Scenarios: • Select WR Williams or Williamson, if one should happen to fall. • Select the best available perimeter pass rusher: Merriman, James, Ware and Pollack.
	The Texans need to find a legitimate pass rusher opposite him in their 3-4 scheme. Merriman has the speed, athleticism and instincts to immediately upgrade the Texans in that facet. Other scenarios: • Select WR Troy Williamson if he falls. • Choose between the best available perimeter pass rushers if Merriman is off the board: Ware, Pollack and James. • If the right perimeter pass rusher isn't available, DE Spears (if he is available). • Select OT Barron, if necessary.
	If the Panthers were fortunate enough for Barron to fall to them here, he would solidify their offensive line. Other scenarios: • OLB Johnson, if he falls. • WR Troy Williamson, if he falls. • RB's Benson or Carnell Williams, if one of the two falls. • QB Rodgers, if he falls. • If all else fails, Oklahoma OT Jammal Brown would be the pick.
	The Chiefs have to take Carlos Rogers here. Other scenarios: • The team would love for OLB Johnson to slip, but that's highly unlikely, and the Chiefs won't trade up for him. • From what we're now hearing, the Chiefs have no intention of drafting a defensive lineman with this pick. It will either be a cornerback or a safety – regardless of whether or not they get a deal done with the Dolphins for Patrick Surtain. • If Rolle and Rogers are off the board, the team would consider DC Jones. • The other option would be DS Thomas Davis with this pick, or trading down to the bottom of the round for FS Brodney Pool.
	The team has a bigger need at linebacker, but Pac Man Jones would be too good a value to pass up this late in the first round. Other scenarios: • The Saints failed to land the prospects they wanted in first round of the last two drafts ( DT Dewayne Robertson in 2003 and LBs Jonathan Vilma and D.J. Williams in 2004), so a more aggressive approach might be in order this year. The problem is there won't be good values at the team's two biggest positions of need – LB and ROT. One option could be to move up in order to secure a prospect such as Texas OLB Derrick Johnson or FSU OT Alex Barron, but the team has just one pick in each of the seven rounds to work with.
	If the Bengals can't bail from this pick, they'll simply use it to draft the best available player. In this scenario, Erasmus James fits the description. Other scenarios: • Trade down, acquire extra picks and focus on the following positions of need later in the draft where there is better value: ILB, OC, WR, DL and OL. • Select the best available DE – possibly Pollack. • Select a sliding cornerback possibly Jones • Select DS Thomas Davis. • Select WR Clayton. • Select OT Brown. • Select DT Johnson.
	Scenarios: • If they don't get a WR with their first selection (No. 7), the Vikings could select Oklahoma's Mark Clayton here. • DS Davis is a strong possibility if they get a WR with their first pick and if the right fit at DE doesn't fall to them here. • Other DEs who could be available include James and Oklahoma's Dan Cody.
	The Rams could use an upgrade at defensive end, but finding a replacement for ROT Kyle Turley is a significantly bigger issue. Other scenarios: • Select the best DE on the board, potentially James, Pollack or Cody. • Select the only other possible first-round OT: Washington's Khalif Barnes. • Select Oklahoma FS Brodney Pool.
	The Cowboys are rumored to have interest in trading out of this pick in order to acquire more day one selections. Other scenarios: • Trade down and acquire an extra pick, ideally on day one to make up for the third-round pick used on QB Drew Henson. • Select the best available WR – Clayton or UAB's Roddy White. • Select OT Brown. • Select OT Barnes. • Select FS Pool.
	While the team still could use a day-one pick on an end who eventually could take over for Wiley, finding upgrades at cornerback and offensive tackle are greater priorities. Scenarios Include: • Select the best available OT – Brown or Barnes. • Select the next best available DC – Nebraska's Fabien Washington or Clemson's Justin Miller. • Select the best available DE – Cody or Iowa's Matt Roth.
	By adding WR Derrick Mason and DC Samari Rolle via free agency, the Ravens have given themselves a lot of draft-day flexibility. Select OT Brown, if available. • Select the best available rush linebacker type – possibly Pollack, James, Cody or even Virginia OLB Darryl Blackstock. • Select DT Johnson. • Next best available prospect, regardless of position.
	By adding DC Kelly Herndon, DE Bryce Fisher and OLB Jamie Sharper via free agency, the team has covered its bases and given itself some freedom to draft the best available player with this pick. Other scenarios: • Could make a deal to trade RB Shaun Alexander. • Have 10 total picks, so they can move up a few spots if they target a player they want – particularly at LB, DE or DC. • Select the best available DE – possibly Cody or Roth. • Select the best available DC – possibly Jackson, Washington or Miller. • Select the best available DT – Johnson or USC's Shaun Cody. • Select OLB Blackstock.
	The Packers would like to find a legitimate pass rusher opposite Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, but in this scenario there isn't one left to draft. Trade down and accumulate picks, which is GM Ted Thompson's preferred method. • Select DS Davis. • Select the best available DE -- possibly Cody or Roth. • Select FS Pool. • Select QB's Jason Campbell (Auburn) or Charlie Frye (Akron). • Select Blackstock or Tennessee OLB Kevin Burnett.
	But for the Redskins, you don't make a trade for the 25th pick without an idea of what prospects will be available, and there's no way to know that three days before the draft. In our opinion, this move hints at a second deal in play for a veteran CB such as Charles Woodson, Darren Howard or John Abraham. If the team takes a WR at No. 9, use this pick at CB (possibly Miller, if not Washington) or DE (possibly Cody or Roth). • If they don't get a WR at No. 9 pick, they could use this pick on WR White. • Washington also could consider Virginia TE Heath Miller.
	The Jets' most glaring weakness on either side of the ball is at cornerback, but their second biggest need is at tight end after Anthony Becht fled to Tampa Bay. Other scenarios: • Select the best available DC – possibly Jackson, Washington or Miller.
	Scenarios: • Trade out, acquire extra Day 1 picks to address needs at DT, DS, WR, DC and DE. • Select the best available DT – possibly Johnson or Cody. • Select the best available DS – possibly Pool. • Select the best available WR – possibly White. • Select the best available DC – possibly Washington or Miller. • Select the best available DE – possibly Cody or Roth.
	Most likely will take Roddy White,WR, Alabama-Birmingham. Other scenarios: • If they don't get a DE with pick No. 12 and a perimeter pass-rusher like James or Cody slips, either would be a possibility here. • Select FS Pool.
	The Colts have a bigger need at inside linebacker, but character issues should prevent them from taking a chance on the top two players at that position – Georgia's Odell Thurman and Florida's Channing Crowder. scenarios: • They'll take Roth or select DT Johnson or DT Cody, if one falls. • Select the best available DC – possibly Washington or Miller. • Trade down, if they can get more picks, and still see value at DL, LB and/or DC early in the second round. • Take a chance on an ILB such as Florida's Crowder or Georgia's Thurman, both of whom have character alerts.
	Scenarios: • Select OL Khalif Barnes or TE Miller, if he's available. • Select a 3-4 DE, such as Cody if he slips. • • Select the best available DC – possibly Washington or Miller. • Reach for Arkansas WR/TE Matt Jones. • Reach for an OL such as Ole Miss' Marcus Johnson or Michigan's David Baas.
	Scenarios: • Package some of five day-one picks and/or eight day-two picks to move up for a player they target at WR, DT, DE or TE. • Select DT Cody if he slips. • Select TE Miller if he slips. • Select OT Barnes if he slips. • Reach for DT Luis Castillo. • Reach for Arkansas WR/TE Matt Jones.
	The Patriots have a bigger need at inside linebacker, but coach Bill Belichick won't fall into that trap on draft day. Other scenarios: • Select best available DC – possibly Jackson or Washington. • Select best available ILB – possibly Thurman, Crowder or Nebraska's Barrett Ruud. • Select best available OL – OT Barnes if he slips, or OG Baas, OT Johnson or Virginia OG Elton Brown.

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