PA Season Ticket Holder
04-27-2003, 06:30 PM
(April 27, 2003) -- NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan offers a breakdown of the three teams he thinks fared the best on Day 1 of the 2003 NFL Draft.
1. Philadelphia -- The Eagles moved up to No. 15 to get DE Jerome McDougle (Miami, Fla.), who will replace Hugh Douglas, now a Jacksonville Jaguar after leaving via free agency. McDougle plays with a high motor and is athletic enough to drop out in coverage like Douglas did.
L.J. Smith (Rutgers) was the top tight end on Philadelphia's board, and according to the coaches, had the best vertical jump of any player in the draft. The Eagles offense has a great history of featuring the tight end and will get lots of mileage out of Smith.
Philadelphia took a big wide receiver in the third round, Billy McMullen (Virginia). The knock on him was a lack of speed but in a private workout, he ran a 4.4 and should be a very early contributor.
2. Dallas -- It could be argued that the Cowboys did the best job on Day 1. Their three picks each have Bill Parcells' stamp. Terence Newman (Kansas State) was unanimously the top cornerback in the draft. He's a guy who can shut down a No. 1 receiver.
In the second round, Dallas came right back with a classic Parcells selection and took center Al Johnson (Wisconsin). This pick reminds me of the year he took Dave Wohlabaugh. Tight end Jason Witten (Tennessee), who had a first-round grade, was the team's third-round choice. Parcells is well-known for his use of the tight end, especially in the red zone. Look for the Cowboys to use a lot of "bunch sets" featuring Witten, to make reads easier for QB Chad Hutchinson.
3. Cincinnati -- It's clear Marvin Lewis' influence in the draft room is strong. The Bengals got the best quarterback in the draft, and he is already signed and working on the playbook.
In the second round, Cincinnati took offensive lineman Eric Steinbach (Iowa). In a survey of 11 NFL offensive line coaches, Steinbach tied Utah's Jordan Gross (who went to Carolina at No. 8) for the best lineman in the draft. In the third round, Cincy took a chance on medical risk WR Kelley Washington (Tennessee), who had a first-round talent grade. Palmer will find many ways to get the ball to this big, talented player.
With a solid second day, there are a few teams that can rival the first day of the above three. The fourth round is critical and will be treated like the first round was yesterday for many teams.
http://nfl.com/draft/story/6339928
1. Philadelphia -- The Eagles moved up to No. 15 to get DE Jerome McDougle (Miami, Fla.), who will replace Hugh Douglas, now a Jacksonville Jaguar after leaving via free agency. McDougle plays with a high motor and is athletic enough to drop out in coverage like Douglas did.
L.J. Smith (Rutgers) was the top tight end on Philadelphia's board, and according to the coaches, had the best vertical jump of any player in the draft. The Eagles offense has a great history of featuring the tight end and will get lots of mileage out of Smith.
Philadelphia took a big wide receiver in the third round, Billy McMullen (Virginia). The knock on him was a lack of speed but in a private workout, he ran a 4.4 and should be a very early contributor.
2. Dallas -- It could be argued that the Cowboys did the best job on Day 1. Their three picks each have Bill Parcells' stamp. Terence Newman (Kansas State) was unanimously the top cornerback in the draft. He's a guy who can shut down a No. 1 receiver.
In the second round, Dallas came right back with a classic Parcells selection and took center Al Johnson (Wisconsin). This pick reminds me of the year he took Dave Wohlabaugh. Tight end Jason Witten (Tennessee), who had a first-round grade, was the team's third-round choice. Parcells is well-known for his use of the tight end, especially in the red zone. Look for the Cowboys to use a lot of "bunch sets" featuring Witten, to make reads easier for QB Chad Hutchinson.
3. Cincinnati -- It's clear Marvin Lewis' influence in the draft room is strong. The Bengals got the best quarterback in the draft, and he is already signed and working on the playbook.
In the second round, Cincinnati took offensive lineman Eric Steinbach (Iowa). In a survey of 11 NFL offensive line coaches, Steinbach tied Utah's Jordan Gross (who went to Carolina at No. 8) for the best lineman in the draft. In the third round, Cincy took a chance on medical risk WR Kelley Washington (Tennessee), who had a first-round talent grade. Palmer will find many ways to get the ball to this big, talented player.
With a solid second day, there are a few teams that can rival the first day of the above three. The fourth round is critical and will be treated like the first round was yesterday for many teams.
http://nfl.com/draft/story/6339928