Mock Draft

April 01, 2004 by Steel Phantom

Mock Draft:

Mock Draft, AFD Edition:

Off last year�s mock, version 3:

� Those that explicate chaos see, in some Ceylonese butterfly, incipient tornados in, say, Topeka.� Well, I guess; for sure, mocking drafts go something like that.� Any trade, any reach (any collective brainfart) in any team�s War Room fogs projections far down the line.�� More to the point, teams spend real money on picks and, just as a matter of due diligence, spend real money on medical and background evals, unavailable widely.� Then there�s espionage; hundreds of little folk trying to make good, on the great day, flinging info about the league by E-mail, fax or, inside the hall, indiscreet body talk.� The Steelers� selection of Randle-El is a good example of the last; ready for Denny until (it is said) some secretary blabbed, the PS FO settled for a player who, subsequently, developed as the finest ST weapon seen here since Rod Woodson.

�

Venality aside, the limit of human foresight does factor.� Every team, and every guru, wants to see �value at the spot� but it is inarguably true that analysis of subsequent performance on the field yields little relation with initial draft order.� ARE was a reach but ARE had more to do with the Steelers� successes last season than any of their �02 class.� Had the Steelers �reached� for, say, SS Tank Williams in the 1^st and FS Dante Wesley in the 3^rd (keeping Tylski for another go to compete with Vincent at ROG) then, whatever else happened last year, we wouldn�t be talking about the safety position today.

Since any projection is predicated on dubious information, it�s best to measure mocks as works of fiction, rather than evident acumen.� Any might be, more or less, credible potentialities but set in flickering bytes, they�re more like the lepidopterist trade than the actual life of the clan Lepidopteron.� Aiding this particular fiction then, or just for laughs��

Dubious info for sure; there�s more draft crap on the net than ever but that quantity doesn�t make any qualitative difference.� Plus, two years on and we�re still talking about safety, and RG too.� Round and round we go but if there�s any day for this kind of thing, April Fools is it.� So:

Round One:

	Team	Player	Remarks
1.01	San Diego	Eli Manning, QB	San Diego has many needs but their problems really date from when they missed out on Peyton.� They won�t get fooled again.
1.02	Cleveland From Oak.	Robert Gallery, LT	Browns send Tim Couch and William Green to Oakland; by selecting Gallery, they improve at two positions, with Ross Verba moving down to LG.
1.03	Arizona	Larry Fitzgerald, WR	No defense but QB suspect Josh McNown can pick his targets with 2003 O-side ROY Anquin Bolden, 2003 1^st round pick Bryant Johnson and now Fitz.
1.04	NYG	Ben Roethlisberger, QB	Franchise QB who will push Kerry Collins onto the 2005 FA market.
1.05	Washington	Tommy Harris, DT	Skins want to trade down but no team will deal with them.� Their D-line is a mess; Harris will play LDE in the base and rush DT in packages.� With all those strong-side backers, Skins could go 3-4.
1.06	Detroit	Kellen Winslow, TE	A TE for the Motor City WCO; nice pairing with Charles Rogers.� The number is 17, that�s the combined Wonderlic score for those two.
1.07	Oakland From Cleve.	Sean Taylor, S	Woodson can�t go on forever but he can play another year, and show Taylor the ropes.�
1.08	Atlanta	DeAngelo Hall, CB	Atlanta needs a #1 WR, because Peerless Price isn�t the guy; they need D-line help too.� However, this draft is deep at both positions but past Hall, only Ahmad Carroll has real potential as a lockdown CB.
1.09	Jacksonville	Will Smith, DE	Without a pass rush, the Jags can�t compete in the AFC South.� His campus workouts and big time production convince the Jags that Will Smith is the new Hugh Douglas.
1.10	Buffalo From Houston	Phillip Rivers. QB	Two teams with some Pittsburgh connections conspire to snatch Rivers from the B&G.� The Texans get a 4^th and 6^th for their trouble.
1.11	San Francisco From Pittsburgh	Roy Williams, WR	In SF, the WCO is no more.� Niners move up to get this Williams, whose 4.37 40 convinces them he, not Mike, is the new TO. Steelers get the Niner�s 4^th round pick this year and a 3^rd in 2005.
1.12	NYJ	Kenechi Udeze, DE	There are contract issues with John Abraham, who will be odd man out in that �00 class of� four 1^st round picks.� But not immediately, Abraham will play OLB this season; picking Udeze, the Jets get better at two spots.
1.13	Houston From Buffalo	Vince Wilfork, NT	In 2003, Houston was 31^st in total defense, 31^st in run defense and 31^st in pass defense.� Bill Parcells once said he�d build his D-line around this player; so will the Texans.
1.14	Chicago	Mike Williams, WR	Bears go BPA, choosing impact over present need.
1.15	Tampa Bay	Randy Starks, DT	Some consider this prospect the most complete DT in the class.� RB is a big need but the Bucs need a DT who can play now.� There are prospects at the position in the 3^rd but they�re raw.� In contrast, the RB offerings down deep look to be significantly more ready out of the box.�
1.16	Pittsburgh	Vernon Carey, OT	Steelers move down to draft at a position of absolute need.� DB is too but the 2^nd round prospects are far better at that spot than on the O-line. Most list Carey as an OG but he played OT in 2002, and played better at that spot than at OG last season.� The last Miami OT to play here, Leon Searcy, also was considered (by some) an OG.
1.17	Cincinnati	Dunta Robinson, CB	Marvin Lewis stays put and gets value at a position of need.�
1,18	New Orleans	Chris Gamble, CB	Too high for this guy IMO but it�s possible that the Saints will be dazzled by this prospect�s purported athleticism.� Then too, he is one of few CB in this draft with any size.
1.19	Minnesota	DJ Williams, LB	Great athlete but Vilma is the better player.
1.20	Miami	Shawn Andrews, OT/OG	Fins have got to upgrade their O-line; Andrews is a nice fix for the loss of Todd Wade.
1.21	New England	Reggie Williams, WR	Too good to pass here; great fit for the Weis attack.
1.22	Dallas	Steven Jackson, RB	IMO, the most complete RB in this class.�
1.23	Seattle	Jon Vilma, MLB	Seahawks need a starter at the spot; Vilma can stay on in packages, partly offsetting the loss of SS Reggie Tongue
1.24	Denver	Ben Troupe, TE	Impact player.�
1.25	Green Bay	Darnell Dockett, DT	Pack really needs a DE but it�s early for prospects at that position; that�s true for S too, another D-side urgency.� However, Dockett is probably the best 3-tech DT in this draft; to contend, GB has to give KGB some help and this prospect does have rush ability.�
1,26	St. Louis	Ahmad Carroll, CB	Small and swift, just the way the Rams like it.
1.27	Tennessee	Ben Watson, TE	Not a game-breaker in the Kellen Winslow mode but the best all around TE in the draft, IMO.
1.28	Philadelphia	Rashaun Woods, WR	BPA; has a Larry Fitz like game.� Will be #2 to Owens (of course) but is a better player than any WR the Eagles� had last season.
1.29	Indianapolis	Karlos Dansby, LB	Good coverage backer; is big enough to replace Marcus Washington but, as yet, lacks the strength.� Still, has speed and that counts with Tony Dungy
1.30	Kansas City	Lee Evans, WR	Chiefs have many D-side issues but their WR are all on the wrong side of 30.� Evans has the speed that KC covets.
1.31	Carolina	Will Poole, CB	As NFL ready as he�s ever going to be.
1.32	New England	Teddy Lehman, LB	Highly intelligent player with great speed and want-to; a definite Pats type who can bring some youth to an aging ILB corps.� Will help in packages and on ST immediately.

Round Two:

	Team	Player	Remarks
2.33	Houston	(Tony Hollings, RB)	Selected in the last supplemental draft.
2.34	Arizona	Kevin Jones, RB	Poor workouts drop this player; Dennis Green snaps him up envisioning the next Robert Smith.
2.35	NYG	Marcus Tubbs, DT	Giants lost both starters at the position.� Texas coach claimed this prospect played to the level of Casey Hampton and Shaun Rogers.
2.36	San Diego	Jacob Rogers, OT	Bolts have nothing at the spot.
2.37	Detroit	Chris Perry, RB	The people�s choice.
2.38	Cleveland	Greg Jones, RB	A pounder to pair with Lee Suggs.
2.39	Atlanta	Michael Clayton, WR	First round value that fits the WCO; can develop as a� #1 WR.
2.40	Jacksonville	Joey Thomas, CB	Big, fast CB in a class that is generally small and slow.� Jags struck gold in R2 last year with Rash Mathis; they look to do the same this spring.�
2.41	Houston	Sean Jones, FS	Another playmaker from the Georgia Bulldogs.�
2.42	Denver	Mike Jenkins, WR	Big WR with some speed if dubious football character.
2.43	Tennessee	Donnell Washington, DT	Immense DT who can be as good as he wants to be.
2.44	Buffalo	Antwan Odom, DE	Each year, Buffalo takes a DE in the 2^nd round.
2.45	New England From Pittsburgh	Jake Grove, OC/OG	Pats move up to get a replacement for Damien Woody.� Steelers get 2.57 and 3.96
2.46	Oakland	Keary Colbert, WR	In a deep WR class, the Raiders can wait for their WR complement to Jerry Porter.
2.47	San Francisco	Justin Smiley, OG	Ideal for the Niner system.
2.48	Chicago	Michael Boulware, SS	Lovie Smith made Alan Archuleta a safety and may do the same with Boulware.
2.49	New Orleans	Dontarrious Thomas, LB	Can play insider or out; productive at Auburn and had Urlacher like WO numbers.
2.50	Cincinnati	Jason Babin, DE	Not a big DE but strong; is a high motor player; will play on the open side opposite Justin Smith.
2.51	Minnesota	Kevin Smith, CB	High character player with good coverage skills out of tiny McNeese State, but did perform well at the Senior Bowl
2.52	Baltimore	Chris Snee, OG	Power OG for a power team
2.53	Dallas	Kelly Butler, RT	Team leader at Purdue, unlike the other big frame OT in this draft, does have some agility.� On the downside, did just 19 reps at Combine, needs to get stronger.�
2.54	Seattle	Dwan Edwards, DT	Productive multi-faceted DT; can play 1-gap or 2.
2.55	Denver	Tatum Bell, RB	Blinding speed and can catch the ball.� Slightly early for this player but the Broncos want to prove they�ll not miss Portis.
2.56	Green Bay	JP Losman, QB	Boom or bust prospect; could take a lesson in football character from Brett Favre
2.57	Pittsburgh (From NE)	Derrick Strait, DB	Steelers deal down towards value at DB.� At 45, they were looking at the 3^rd FS; chances are, that would be unchanged at 57.� At 45, they were looking at the 7^th CB; chances are that would be little changed too.� If it�s not Strait that falls, then Smith, LeSueur and/or Ware figure to be on the board.� Strait�s stock has dipped in the off-season as it�s now said he is merely a boundary CB.� Maybe, but it�s worth noting that Strait, not Andre Woolfolk was #1 for the Sooners in 2002.� Woolfolk went 28^th last year; Strait would certainly be value here.� This prospect is a two for one type; if it doesn�t work out at CB, he has the tackling ability to move over to FS.
2.58	Tennessee	Isaac Hilton, DE	Titans go for a productive small school prospect with great measurables, just as they did last spring with Tyrone Calico.
2.59	Philadelphia	Matt Ware, DB	Can go sideline to sideline; may be groomed to replace Brian Dawkins, or Bobby Taylor
2.60	Indianapolis	Jeremy LeSueur, CB	Big physical CB, should play well in the Dungy-2.
2.61	New Orleans	Daryl Smith, LB	High try guy and a good athlete; was a productive starter for four seasons at Georgia Tech
2.62	Kansas City	Matthias Askew, DT	Huge run stopper; due to family concerns came out a year too soon.� On the plus side, he�s talented, and does have that motivation.
2.63	Carolina	Devery Henderson, WR	Moved up fast this winter, has excellent speed; on the mid-horizon, Panthers may lose either Smith or Mohammad.� This player has starting ability.
2.64	New England	Julius Jones, RB	Multi-faceted RB whose receiving ability will fit in the offense.

Round three:

	Team	Player	Remarks
3.65	Arizona	Isaac Sopoaga, DT	Like Askew (and Olshansky and Siavii), another talented but raw prospect; powerful run stopper, along with Dockett, was probably the best DT at the Senior Bowl.�� Berry and Pace are smallish DE; the Cards need an anchor.
3.66	NYG	Sean Locklear, OL	Athletic O-lineman whose versatility will be an asset for the NYG, a team with little upfront.
3.67	San Diego	Keyaron Fox, LB	Athletic, high try LB.�
3.68	Oakland	Bobby McCray, DE/LOLB	An Al pick in the mode of Derrick Gibson, and that�s not good.
3.69	Cleveland	Bob Sanders, SS	Has tools on the order of Troy Polamalu but lacks the Trojan Torpedo�s savvy.��
3.70	Atlanta	Marquise Hill, DE	Came out a year early; won�t help much this season but could be good down the road.
3.71	Jacksonville	Devard Darling, WR	Developing WR with some size.
3.72	Houston	Ricardo Colclough, CB	A small school player, Colclough can learn from Aaron Glenn while helping in packages and PR/KR. duty.
3.73	Jacksonville	Darrion Smith, DE	One of a few capable closed side DE in this draft; would be re-united with Will Smith down in Jagland.
3.74	Detroit	Tank Johnson, DT	Has Tommy Harris type ability; Lions will try him in packages and hope he develops as a replacement for Robert Porcher at LDE.
3.75	Buffalo	Jason Peter, TE	Played alongside blimp Shawn Andrews in Fayetteville; may play alongside blimp Mike Williams in Hamburg.
3.76	Pittsburgh	Derrick Hamilton, WR	Needs technique work but is a big WR with 4.4 speed who is willing to block and was highly productive at Clemson.� Talent and want-to; could be the next John Stallworth; will give the Steelers some options in dealing with Burress next winter.
3.77	NYJ	Marcell Allmond, CB	Physical CB for a team without much size at that position.
3.78	San Francisco	Greg Brooks, CB	Niners need a quick #3 behind Plummer and Rumph.
3.79	Chicago	Travelle Wharton, OL	Listed as an OT but best position may be LG.
3.80	Tampa Bay	Cedric Cobbs, RB	Coach Gruden has no problems taking on talented players with character issues.
3.81	Cincinnati	Michael Turner, RB	Fast and strong, has great balance.� Can�t catch the ball but packs it well enough to spell Rudi for a series or three.
3.82	New Orleans	Maurice Clarett, RB	Will grow up behind the Deuce.
3.83	Minnesota	Max Starks, OT	Viking type RT.�
3.84	Dallas	Igor Olshansky, DT	Very raw but smart and strong; will develop nicely under Parcells.
3.85	Seattle	Stuart Schweigart, FS	Good centerfielder but has tackling issues; still, will help in packages and could develop as a running mate for Ken Hamlin.
3.86	Denver	Demorrio Williams, LB	Too short for to profile higher but made a lot of plays at Nebraska.� Denver likes their LB with speed.
3.87	Green Bay	Jason Shivers, S	Marques Anderson has been a disaster at the position.� Shivers does have some warts but he can run and he will hit.
3.88	Miami	Ernest Wilford, WR	Glacially slow but has good size and football instincts.� Possession receiver.
3.89	Baltimore	Bernard Berrian, WR	Good speed, technically flawless, has had a serious knee injury but if that checks out, the Ravens have value with this prospect.
3.90	Philadelphia	Steve Peterman, OG	RG only but a good one.
3.91	Indianapolis	Chad Lavalais, DT	Overage and doesn�t play the run well but he can rush the passer.� He�s a high try guy and said to be a good teammate too.� Character player.
3.92	St. Louis	Travis LaBoy, DE	Undersized but strong, fast and highly intelligent; with all the want-to of a Grant Wistrom.�
3.93	Tennessee	Stacy Andrews, OT	Bigger and more athletic than his brother; will have some time to learn behind Brad Hopkins and Fred Miller.
3.94	Kansas City	Matt Schaub, QB	Trent Green is getting up there.� Schaub is bright enough to master the complexities of this offense.
3.95	Carolina	Ben Utecht, TE	Receiving TE.
3.96	Pittsburgh From NE	Tim Anderson, DE	OSU DT with a game that translates to the 3-4.� Will work as a package rusher immediately; could supplant KVO as a starter in 2005.� Just a bit early but this player would not have gotten by Cincinnati (reportedly, that staff is high on this prospect), or Houston in R4.
3.97	Cincinnati	Madieu Williams, FS	High try playmaker, will be a ST demon.�

First day falls:

Nate Dorsey: A big, soft RT but smart and talented; however, that doesn�t distinguish him from Brian Rimpf, who is now a 4^th round value.� Maybe, Rimpf moves up, maybe Dorsey sticks, or Max Starks slides.� One thing seems sure, just as Tony Pashos fell last season, one or more of those big slow guys won�t get called on the first day.� IMO, Stacy Andrews will bump one and other LT prospects, Adrian Jones or Marko Cavko, may displace others.

Nate Adibi, DE:� A borderline 1^st day player anyway, hasn�t developed at V-Tech.� Small school players Babin, Hilton and LaBoy were far more productive, and had better measurables.� Bobby McCray had similar measurables but more production, though that was restricted to his senior season.�

Tactical discussion:

This is a deep draft; it makes sense to accumulate picks, if possible.� In the scenario above, the PS move down twice acquiring picks they can use to address future needs.� One they used directly, to queue Tim Anderson to replace KVO and indirectly, as the PS developed the luxury to select a high value WR, Derrick Hamilton, in R3.� It�s worth noting that those positions are uncommonly deep; players who are R3 worthy this year would be much higher in some classes.�

The second pick added, the Niner�s 4^th here, is noted in the following.� There�s rarely any significant trading on the second day but the Steelers do have enough picks to address additional downstream needs including:

O-line:� On the inside, Hartings is a short-timer, Simmons is no sure thing and Vincent really doesn�t seem to fit the system.� At OT, well, at this point there�s no reason to believe that the PS will extend either Ross or Nkwenti past 2005.� IMO, the FO would do well to draft up to three O-line prospects.

Interior LB:� Farrior will be a C$3 player after this season; Bell has yet to be extended; Foote will be entering his RFA season but has shown little to warrant an extension.�

QB:� Maddox can�t be considered the long-term guy; Batch is signed through 2005 only; reportedly, the Steelers don�t think they have much in St. Pierre.

NT:� Behind Hampton?� Nothing at all.

And, there�s always those traditional 2^nd day picks: TE, RB, FB and safety.� Anyway, here�s one scenario:

Round 4, 4a.� Jacob Bell, 6-5, 305#, OT/OG (OC?), Miami of Ohio:

Bell was the top O-lineman on the unit that protected Ben Roethlisberger.� Though a LT in college, Bell projects inside in the show; if he can play OC, in addition to OG and RT, he�s absolutely the guy.� Bell is a bright player and, since Miami North did run a sophisticated pro-style attack, projects to be ready to play soon.� Maybe too ready, initially, I had Bell going to the Eagles in R3; I don�t know that he�ll make it through but, regardless, there will be a value cluster in the 4^th at O-line. Other prospects include:

Nick Leckey, 6-3, 290#, OC/OG, Kansas State.� Leckey was the leader on that unit.

Brian Rimpf: 6-6, 319#, OG/OT, East Carolina.� Rimpf is huge and smart but he doesn�t move great.� If the Steelers want to be a pull, trap-blocking team, he may not fit.� Otherwise yes, this player shut down Julius Peppers, he had a 35 on his Wonderlic and is said to play with a high degree of aggression.

Alex Stephanovich, 6-3, 305#, OC/OG, the OSU.� Stepanovich is an OC but can play RG too.� The problem with this player is the same as with Rimpf; he lacks the movement ability that the Steelers previously have featured.�

Tony Pape, 6-6, 323#, OG/OT Michigan.� Once regarded as a 2^nd round pick, Pape�s stock dropped off sharply following a poor showing in Combine positional drills.� Pape was a RT in college but projects at RG in the show.� On the plus side, he is a high try guy and, once upon a time, scouts had some harsh things to say about Jon Runyan, another Michigan RT.� Runyan was drafted in R4 back in �96 but has developed past that humble origin.� On the downside, Pape is slow out of his stance; he might be a two-position player (RG/RT) but is something of a projection at both spots.

Steve Peterman, 6-5, 320# RG, LSU.� In the scenario above, I had Peterman going to the Eagles.� He may fall (and, as noted, Bell may move up).� Peterman has athletic limitations but also has want-to, and has played for a winning program.� On the downside, Peterman is a one-position player, that being RG.�

In the best case, the PS comes away with a prospect that figures at more than one position.� As for single position only players, well:

Round 4, 4b.� Cody Pickett, 6-3, 225#, QB, University of Washington.

Entering 2003, considerable Heisman hype surrounded Pickett.� However, that all floundered on Washington�s execrable O-line, and suspect playcalling.� Still, someone had to throw the ball to Reggie Williams and Pickett does have a big time arm.� He�s tough too, as you would expect from a player who participates in the roughest sport on earth, rodeo, as did his father before him.� Bronc-busting aside, it�s worth noting that Pickett played 6 games with a separated shoulder, on his throwing side.� On the downside, his mechanics have been called into question, and there is some concern about his judgment.� Still, this is a prospect with far more ability than Brian St. Pierre; he�s shown some leadership too.�

Navigating towards another value cluster, the PS might consider LB in the 5^th round, either inside or out.� IMO both need and value trump on the inside, so:

Round 5:� Alex Lewis, 5-11, 237#, ILB Wisconsin.��

Lewis has a great attitude to go with superb athletic ability (Pro Day 25 reps, sub 4.6 40); he was used as rush LB at Wisconsin so, if worst comes to worst and the Steelers lose Kendrell Bell, Alex Lewis could provide the inside rush threat absent there from Chad Brown to Contact.� Lewis� short statue may be an impediment to some teams but not the Steelers, who have no issues in that regard.� If Lewis is off the board, a couple more candidates may present including:

Nikos Koutouvides, 6-3, 240#, Purdue.� Doesn�t have much speed but posted great times in his Combine agility drills.� Was a highly productive player at Purdue; he�s not an impact guy, like Brown, Bell and maybe Lewis, but he is a football player.

Jorge Cordova, 6-2, 242, LB/DE, Nevada.� Another player with want-to; was a rush DE at Nevada but worked at MLB in a couple post-season tilts.� Ran an average of 4.69 in Pro Day workouts.�

If those LB are off the board, the Steelers could go OLB in R5 too, but IMO Troy Fleming, RB out of Tennessee would be BPA.� Fleming was a highly regarded RB coming out of HS but disappeared behind Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and Cedric Houston.� Those are some good backs; to Fleming�s credit, he sucked it up and developed as a contributing FB.� Back in �90, the PS had some luck drafting a college FB for conversion to RB; that man was Barry Foster, who just might be Fleming�s avatar.�� Fleming is 6-0, 230#; he ran a sub 4.5.� Athletically, he�s as good as any RB in this class; character-wise, well, to help his team, he did commit to the obscurity that is the FB position.

Reverting to that value cluster notion:

Round 6, 6a:� Brandon Kennedy, 5-10, 336#, NT, North Texas.

The Steelers must have a NT in back of Hampton.� Kennedy is in the same fireplug mode and IMO would be best value at the spot.� Chad Pugh is another plugger type; on the downside, Pugh put up just 19 reps in his drills.� The third guy is Ahmad Childress, who is huge but very soft.� Childress is approaching DND status IMO; I�d consider Jon Bradley of Arkansas State ahead of him.� Or:

Round 6, 6b:� Trevor Johnson, 6-5, 260#, DE/LB/TE, Nebraska.�

High motor player who is moving up on many boards; at this point, the Steelers may have to consider him in R5.� Johnson is another high try guy.� He�s raw as a rusher but he will apply himself.� In the interim, since he began as a TE, he may fit here as a 3^rd at that position, in the Mike Vrabel mode.� Other candidates include Uyi Osunde (who could go higher, but his injury history makes that a dubious pick), Reggie Torbor or Marcus Jones.� However, past Johnson, better value may be had at safety with:

Gibril Wilson, 6-0, 197#, Tennessee.�
Rashad Washington, 6-3, 219#, Kansas State.

Round 6, 6c:� One player rated too low on some boards (Huddle Report has him as a deep 6^th) is Kris Wilson, 6-2, 246# TE/FB, Pittsburgh.�

Wilson ran 4.6 and did 25 reps; he is a quality receiver at TE who has the speed to split safeties; however, his short stature has dumped him down on some boards.� IMO, this player is a 4^th round value; if he does fall, even to 6a, the PS should snap him up.� If nothing else, he would beat out Matt Cushing for that all-important 3^rd TE, 2^nd FB slot. ��If not Wilson, and that�s highly unlikely, maybe a pure FB such as Lousaka Polite, or Mike Karney; ideally, Thomas Tapeh but it�s highly unlikely that the top FB will be on the board.

Round 7:� Any number of O-linemen including Ryan Lilja, 6-3, 276#, OG/OC, Kansas State who was part of the interior unit that stood up Tommy Harris and the Sooners.

Postscript:

As I said, it�s fiction.� In the first round, I invented that Buffalo/Houston trade to avoid having to decide on Phillip Rivers. Now, that�s a believable deal, fact having some reflection in fiction, but, say, it doesn�t happen and the Steelers do draft Rivers; or Will Smith, who, as the #2 DE, might be available (presuming the Jags prefer Udeze).� The thing that links Rivers and Smith is this: while either may be value at the spot, neither play those positions of most pressing need.� In the Cowbert Era, need previously has trumped but:�

Pick	Player	Remarks
1.11	Phillip Rivers, QB or Will Smith, DE/LOLB	Either have some transformative value, Rivers as, possible, a franchise QB; Smith as a legitimate rush DE in packages, and an elephant-style OLB in the 34.�
2.45	Kelly Butler, RT	An absolute must have; past Butler, OT prospects drop off the table
3.76	Ricardo Colclough, CB	9^th to 11^th CB; pick from Colclough, Allmond or, maybe, LeSueur drops through.
4	Nick Leckey, OC/OG	Two-position interior prospect; at present, the PS have single-position interior players: Simmons, Okobi and Vincent.
5	Alex Lewis, ILB	As noted, the PS faces a number of contractual issues at this spot.
6a	Brandon Kennedy, NT	Another value cluster, but Kennedy would be far the best choice.
6b	Gibril Wilson, FS	The Steelers should be so lucky.
6c	Shawn Johnson, DE	At this point, Carstens and Corey Williams are probably off the board.
7	Reggie Torbor, OLB	D-side depth prospect-X.

In the scenario above, the PS goes O-side early, drafting D-side depth late.� The FO would not trade out of 1.11 and, considering the OT class, could not trade out at 2.45.� Therefore, they�d lack the picks to get ahead of their WR and DE contract issues.� Too bad, but the more likely projection is unaltered in that regard as:

Pick	Player	Remarks
1.11	Dunta Robinson, CB	Some like him but he�s a reach at 1.11 IMO.
2.45	Kelly Butler, OT	Must have, IMO.
3.76	Bobby McCray, DE/OLB	The PS have drafted many a hybrid DE/OLB in this round.� Coach Cowher was in FLA for UF�s Pro Day.
4	Leckey, OC	Assuming the FO gets in front of their 2005 issues inside.
5	Ben Hartsock, TE	PS will probably extend Bell and could be fine with Foote.� Hartsock blocks and may be a decent RZ receiver.
6a	Kennedy, NT	PS must have a NT.
6b	Johnson, DE	Whichever DE.
6c	Drew Carter, WR	Whichever WR
7	Augie Hoffman, OG	Boston College has sent many an O-lineman to the show.

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Mock Draft

April 01, 2004 by Steel Phantom

Baltimore

Kelly Butler, RT

Pittsburgh

Derrick Strait, DB

Carolina

Arizona

Cleveland

Pittsburgh

Derrick Hamilton, WR

NYJ

Chicago

Philadelphia

Carolina

Pittsburgh

Tim Anderson, DE