Tuesday April 12th, 2005 Page updated at 2:20pm
2005 NFL Mock Draft #1
By: David Bachman
Fantasy Football Editor For WagerOnFootball.com

There are less than two weeks left before the 2005 NFL Draft (April 23-24) and teams are finalizing their draft boards. With that in mind, WagerOnFootball.com fantasy guru Dave B delivers his first mock draft of for the 2005 NFL draft. Below is our first crack at mapping out the first round. We'll be scouting news and events from individual workouts, as well as zeroing in on NFL teams' ever-changing needs to make sure our projections remain accurate and realistic. So if what you want is 2005 NFL Draft information and 2005 NFL Mock Drafts and
Draft prospects, draft order, samples and other stuff. We will keep you posted on draft activity and the fantasy impact these rookies will have. The NFL draft order is set so now stay tuned for more information.

Updated: April 12th at 2:20pm

NFL Team	2005 Mock Draft - Round 1
	#1 - Aaron Rodgers | QB | California, The 49ers have essentially narrowed the list of potential candidates down to three -- Cal QB Aaron Rodgers, Utah QB Alex Smith and Michigan WR Braylon Edwards. Complicating matters is the lack of a market for the right to select first this year because there simply isn‘t a clear-cut No. 1 prospect worth paying
	#2 - Ronnie Brown | RB | Auburn, Although the 6'1", 230-pound Brown shared time in the backfield at Auburn, he is regarded as a very well-rounded pro. Ricky Williams' sudden retirement last summer threw their running situation into a mess, but the Dolphins can get it fixed right here.
	#3 - Alex Smith | QB |Utah, The Browns are in a prime location to trade down with a team looking to jump in front of Chicago to get their choice of wide receivers Braylon Edwards and USC’s Mike Williams or Smith himself. The Browns really need an upgrade at left tackle, but Alex Barron would probably be a little bit of a reach here. Cleveland is also lacking playmakers on defense, and with new GM Phil Savage coming over from Baltimore
	#4 - Braylon Edwards | WR | Michigan, Some observers don't believe there is any way the Bears will select another Michigan wide receiver given the way that former first-round pick David Terrell bombed during his stay in the Windy City. We believe the Bears need another wideout to compliment free agent signee Muhsin Muhammad. Edwards seems like a better fit than Mike Williams, who lacks speed and is just too similar to Muhammad.
	#5 - Carnell Williams | RB | Auburn, The Buccaneers could go in several different directions with this pick, including RB, OT, OG, QB, WR, DT or DB. Looking at the probabilities regarding how the top of the draft board will unfold, RB is likely to be the position that the Bucs will get their best value with the fifth overall pick. While Benson is a better fit for an offense looking for a load-carrying power runner, Williams is a better fit for Jon Gruden's version of the West Coast offense.
	#6 - Cedric Benson | RB | Texas, Playmakers on offense. That is what the Titans need in whatever form they come, whether it be a running back or wide receiver. There is still a solid chance they could go with Mike Williams here but the loss of free agent castoff Mason is not the end of the world in Tennessee. This pick opens up more possibilities.
	#7 - Mike Williams | WR | USC, The Vikings traded Randy Moss to Oakland in early March and then spent the free agency period signing defensive players. With the defensive overhaul complete, the Purple have to focus on finding a wideout who can help fill the void left by Moss. Williams isn't even in the same league as Moss when it comes to speed, but he is a monster in terms of size and athleticism. If the Vikings fail to land a wideout with this pick, they'll likely add another defensive player and then use their No. 18 pick to select a receiver.
	#8 - Antrel Rolle | CB | Miami (FL), the Cardinals will get a pre-draft deal done with the Bills that will land them RB Travis Henry in exchange for OT L.J. Shelton and possibly a second-round swap. If that's the case, drafting a cornerback with their top pick becomes a necessity. From what we hear, the team likes Rolle over Adam Jones (West Virginia), primarily because of the size issue. Rolle also has the instincts, toughness and athletic ability to quickly become a solid starter in the NFL.
	#9 - Pac-Man Adam Jones | CB | West Virginia, Despite showcasing one of the best defenses in the league a year ago the team does still have a major need on that side of the ball after losing corner Fred Smoot in free agency. Jones doesn't have tremendous size but he plays much bigger than he is while also possessing amazing speed, athleticism and playmaking ability both on defense as well as a return man. He will remind you of a more explosive Dunta Robinson or Antoine Winfield.
	#10 - Alex Barron | OT | Florida State, The Lions could use a playmaker at defensive end, but finding a replacement for the departed Stockar McDougle at right tackle is more glaring. Blessed with prototypical left tackle size at 6'6", 308 pounds, Barron started for his last two-and-a-half seasons with the Seminoles and would figure to give the Lions some needed help. He would likely start on the right side as Jeff Backus is decent on the left.
	#11 - Shawne Merriman | OLB/DE | Maryland, The Cowboys have a few needs to address and can really focus in on the ones they do have with two first round picks thanks to (The bills) deal. Adding a blue chip wide receiver is still a need but if Edwards and Williams are already off the board by the time they pick, the Cowboys can get a better value in the form of a pass rusher. Merriman has the speed, athleticism and instincts to immediately upgrade the Cowboys defense as an edge rusher.
	#12 - Derrick Johnson | OLB | Texas, Somewhere during the first round the Chargers should address their inconsistent pass rush, and Johnson is a perfect fit for the direction head coach Marty would like to take this defense. At linebacker. Johnson has the ability to provide consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks as an outside force.
	#13 - David Pollack | DE | Georgia, If Barron is already taken, the Texans' focus will likely shift to the OLB position in their 3-4 defensive scheme. The team used a first-round pick on Jason Babin in 2004 and, while he did make strides late last season, the team still needs a legitimate pass rusher and playmaker opposite him. Pollack might lack ideal size and top-end speed, but he has the quickness, power and playmaking instincts to immediately contribute in the NFL. Furthermore, his best fit might be as a 3-4 rush linebacker.
	#14 - Troy Williamson | WR | South Carolina, Steve Smith has shown the ability to be the No. 1 receiver for the Panthers, but with Muhsin Muhammad out of the picture, the Panthers could use a guy who can immediately push 2004 second-round pick Keary Colbert for the No. 2 spot. Williamson had 43 catches for 835 yards, a gaudy 19.3 yard average, and seven touchdowns for the Gamecocks as a junior this season. He can flat our fly.
	#15 - Marcus Spears | DE | LSU, If the deal for DC Patrick Surtain (Dolphins) goes through as expected, addressing the defensive end position must become the Chiefs' first-round focus. The Chiefs have a decent starting combo at DE in Jared Allen and Eric Hicks, but they really are missing depth and size at the position. Spears would be a good fit, as he is a "tweener" DE/DT who could really make an impact as an interior pass rusher and play in a rotation that would give Allen and Hicks a breather while beefing up the line on first and second downs.
	#16 - Carlos Rogers | DC | Auburn, The Saints are constantly trying to fix their problems in the defensive backfield. Rogers is confident, has good size at 6'1", 194 pounds, and led the Tigers with eight pass breakups, while adding a pair of interceptions. A 4.31 at the combine didn't hurt, either. Rogers has everything you look for in a top corner physically and he came through with a tremendous senior campaign as well as an eye-opening performance at the Combine.
	#17 - Travis Johnson | DT | Florida State, The Bengals lessened the need at defensive tackle need with the addition of Bryan Robinson, but if Johnson is still available he should be the team's pick. After struggling through some off-the-field issues that affected his play early in his career at FSU, Johnson had a breakout season as a fulltime starter in 2004. In our opinion, he's the best defensive tackle in this year's draft class and has a chance to make a huge impact early in his NFL career as a one-gap penetrating DT with enough bulk and strength to hold the point of attack.
	#18 - Mark Clayton | WR | Oklahoma, Has an excellent feel for finding soft spots in zone. Does a subtle job of setting defenders up with quick double-move. Is quick and crisp. Has excellent body control and a feel for running routes versus different coverages. Has very good speed. Minnesota will love his they're new combo with Burleson, and he can Get downfield to. Ranks among the elite in draft class in terms of consistency catching the football. "Pluck on the run" is impressive. CPepp to Clayton I can see it now.
	#19 - Jammal Brown | OT | Oklahoma, Brown’s stock has been on the rise and he should make his way into the latter part of the first round. And with Kyle Turley looking like a June 1 cut, the Rams will need a capable player to plug into his position on the right side. St. Louis could also look for either a defensive end, safety, or offensive guard at this point. Brown - the 6'6", 313-pounder was an overpowering blocker in the college game, especially in pass protection. This pick will make Mark Bulger and Steven Jackson very happy.
	#20 - Roddy White | WR | UAB, White is 6'3" and 205 pounds, so he's a big target and he put up monster numbers at Alabama-Birmingham: 71 catches, 1452 yards, 20.5 yards per catch, and 14 touchdowns. He's also got the outside speed the Cowboys need. Adding a top downfield threat like White would certainly help Bledsoe and force defenses to respect someone else in the passing game other than tight end Whitten while also opening things up for the dallas running game.
	#21 - Khalif Barnes | OT | Washington, After the signings of Reggie Hayward and Marcellus Wiley the team is now free to look in another direction. Word is that the team is very concerned about their situation at offensive tackle with Mike Pearson coming back from a serious knee injury and his top backup Bob Whitfield leaving as a free agent so don't be surprised to see them go that route as early as the first round. A tremendous physical specimen with rare size and athleticism, Barnes has seen his stock soar over the last few months due in large part to his standout performances at both the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine.
	#22 - Dan Cody | DE | Oklahoma, There's not much the Ravens can do here but pick the best player left on the board. Can you see Cody and Lewis playing together? I can!! We're betting that teams will grow leery of the clinical depression issues that caused Cody to miss part of the 2001 season. It doesn't seem to be a big talking point now, but teams reach the peak of their paranoia in the days leading up to the draft. This is a big enough drop for Cody that teams such as the Ravens wouldn't shy away from him.
	#23 - Erasmus James | DE | Wisconsin, James' less-than-impressive workout at the combine and his history of injuries might cause him to slip a little bit on draft day. He is one of the best pass-rushing DE prospects in this class and would be considered a great find at 23. The Seahawks will also be looking for linebackers and cornerbacks with this selection but James would be the best available value.
	#24 - Thomas Davis | S/LB | Georgia, The Packers sat back and watched free agent safety Michael Hawthorne sign with the Rams on Wednesday. Hawthorne joins Darren Sharper and Bhawoh Jue as safeties who departed the Cheese State via free agency this season. At this point, the only returning safety from last season is Mark Roman, who spent part of last season in head coach Mike Sherman's doghouse. Unless new Packers' defensive coordinator is okay with the idea of playing one safety (yes, we're being sarcastic), then the Packers have little choice but to take a safety in the first round.
	#25 - Demarcus Ware | DE/OLB | Troy, Ware is a bit of a project, but has the potential to be a pass-rushing force as a swing player as the Broncos throw in more 3-4 looks on defense this year. Ware has the athletic ability to play outside linebacker or defensive end. USC's Shaun Cody and Iowa's Matt Roth were also possibilities, at least until Denver acquired the entire Cleveland defensive front and reworked Trevor Pryce's contract; now, it looks as if they'll add Ware to the likes of D.J. Williams, Al Wilson, and Ian Gold.
	#26 - Heath Miller | TE | Virginia, Since 1992 the Jets have used first round draft picks on Johnnie Mitchell, Kyle Brady and Anthony Becht but have had little or no success. There is little question that Heath Miller is the top tight end available and should likely be gone much earlier than this but he is dealing with a sports hernia and may not be able to workout prior to the draft, which is really hurting him right now. Health aside Miller really does have the tools to be an impact player in the passing game and while he isn't in the same class as guys like Tony Gonzalez or Kellen Winslow he has excellent size, and good athleticism
	#27 - Shaun Cody | DE | USC, The Falcons are still searching for a replacement for starting guard Roberto Garza, who signed with the Bears as a free agent. This is not a good year for guards, so the Falcons will most likely select Cody here, the best player on the board. By opting to apply pressure to NFC quarterbacks with the USC defensive lineman this is another need the Falcons probably will feel they're glad they can address now.
	#28 - Corey Webster | CB | LSU, I know what your thinking, again on defense? Why not wideout. Listen the Bolts can put up points, what they need are players on D. Webster battled injuries in 2004, after setting the world on fire during his 2003 season, but still managed to pick off a couple of passes and tie for the team lead with nine passes defended. At 6'0", 200 pounds, he has the size and strength to handle physical receivers and should improve the Chargers secondary.
	#29 - Channing Crowder | ILB | Florida, The Colts made the right decision parting ways with former starting MLB Rob Morris because he just didn't fit. He will be a good run-plugger in a different uniform, but he didn't have the speed or cover skills that are necessary to play in the cover-2. Crowder is still raw, but he's a good athlete with a mean streak. His range and agility make him a much better fit for Tony Dungy's scheme.
	#30 - Darryl Blackstock | LB | Virginia, Bell left town via free agency and the team just can't rely solely on the heart of James Farrior. This leaves the team light on linebacker depth. The Steelers came close to the superbowl last year so they might enter the draft in search of the guy that can take them over the hump so to speak. It's also possible that head coach Bill Cowher will take a wide receiver, which would probably allow him to not rely soly on Ward and the unproven Cedric Wilson whom they got in FA from the niners.
	#31 - Luis Castillo | DT | Northwestern, Castillo is a tremendous athletic specimen and has a very legitimate shot at late round one at this point. Wide receiver is also a need, especially when you consider that Todd Pinkston continues to disappoint on almost a weekly basis, and don't get me started on Freddie. When all is said and done look for them to package a number of picks and move up for a shot at someone like Travis Johnson since that is a position they are looking at considering Corey Simon's long-term future with the team is in doubt. However, since it doesn't make sense to predict trades the best player available on the board for them is Castillo, who will solidify their depth and give them a potential future starter.
	#32 - Fabian Washington | DC | Nebraska, The Patriots have a bigger need at inside linebacker, but coach Bill Belichick won't fall into that trap on draft day. If the team can't find a good value at inside linebacker with the 32nd pick it will go in a different direction and simply find a free agent after June 1st cuts to fill the need. Washington would be the best athlete on the board at this point and the team can certainly use help at the position after parting ways with Ty Law. No player improved his stock at the combine more than Washington, who ran one of the fastest 40-yard dash times (4.25) in the history of the event.

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