ROUND 1 | ROUND 2
9. Washington Redskins – Adam Jones*, CB West Virginia
The Redskins defense was among the best in the league last year, but after trading away cornerback Champ Baily last off season and allowing Fred Smoot to leave via free agency this year, the Redskins are in dire need of a No. 1 corner. Jones is a tenacious player with good cover skills and great recovery speed, however, he lacks ideal size. The Redskins will also consider a top-flight wide receiver like South Carolina’s Troy Williamson or a pass rusher like Merriman or Wisconsin’s Erasmus James.
10. Detroit Lions – Derrick Johnson, OLB Texas
With Teddy Lehman and Boss Bailey on this team, the Lions really don’t need another young linebacker, but Johnson is just too good of a talent to pass up at No. 10. A pass-rushing defensive end and offensive tackle are bigger needs for Detroit, so Merriman or Florida State offensive lineman Alex Barron are also possibilities. However, the addition of Johnson could have a huge impact on what is already a pretty solid front seven.
11 Dallas Cowboys – Shawne Merriman*, DE/OLB Maryland
Somewhere during the first round the Cowboys should address their inconsistent pass rush, and Merriman is a perfect fit for the direction head coach Bill Parcells would like to take this defense. He has the ability to provide consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks as a defensive end when Dallas is in a 3-4 set, but he can shift out to play the attack linebacker in the 3-4, which Parcells plans to implement more frequently this year.
12. San Diego Chargers (from NY Giants) – Marcus Spears, DE LSU
The Chargers were a tremendous surprise in ‘04, but they still need to upgrade at the offensive tackle, guard, and safety positions. They also need a defensive end that can push for playing time right away and eventually take over on the left side for Jacques Cesaire. Spears has prototypical size for a defensive end in a 3-4 defense, and is the best value remaining at a need position.
13. Houston Texans – Alex Barron, OT Florida State
Offensive tackle is a huge need for the Texans, but there aren’t many blue-chippers in this year’s draft. So if Barron happens to make it down to the middle of the first round, it‘s unlikely they would let him pass. The left tackle position has an Achilles heel since Houston’s first season, and they need to get someone in there who can protect David Carr’s blind side on a consistent basis.
14. Carolina Panthers – 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.
15. Kansas City Chiefs - Demarcus Ware, DE/OLB
The Chiefs are in desperate need of playmakers on defense after finishing ranked ahead of just one team in the NFL in yards allowed, and Ware offers some versatility that should immediately boost KC’s pass rush. The apparent acquisition of cornerback Patrick Surtain from the Dolphins alleviates some of the need in the secondary and gives the Chiefs the ability to take the best defender available.
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16. New Orleans Saints – Aaron Rogers*, QB California
The Saints are one of the most inconsistent teams in the league, and much of that stems from the inconsistent play of current starting QB Aaron Brooks. They also lack playmakers on the defensive side of the ball, but if Rogers were to slip this far, the Saints would most likely grab him. Under the most logical scenario, a quarterback-hungry team will probably trade up if Rogers slips anywhere near this far. But if he does, New Orleans will be happy to have him.
Picks: 1-8 | 9-16 | 17-24 | 25-32 | ROUND 2 |
Positional Rankings: QB RB FB WR TE OT OG C - DE DT ILB OLB S CB - K P
